- ‘Blessed be their judgement’, says ex-Minister’s associate
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State has announced the suspension of a former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities.
Some of the allegations leveled against Aregbesola are that he harshly criticized President Bola Tinubu, his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, created parallel organs within Osun APC and refused to vote for the party.
In a letter dated October 22, 2024 and addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Osun APC, Tajudeen Lawal and Secretary, Alao Kamoru, disclosed that the suspension of Aregbesola followed complaints of anti-party activities leveled against the former Minister of Interior by the Ilesa East Local Government Executive Committee, where the former governor comes from.
The Ilesa East council leadership of the party, in a letter addressed to the state chairman and dated October 21, 2024 and signed by the chairman, Fowowe Timothew and Secretary, Kehinde Ajayi, accused Aregbesola of undermining, weakening and creating lack of cohesion in the party at both state and local government levels.
“The Ife East Local Government Executive Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) hereby formally requests that the State Executive Committee initiate disciplinary action against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in accordance with Article 21 of APC’s constitution, for engaging in activities that are harmful to the party.
“At a meeting of the Local Government Executive Committee held on the 21st day of October 2024, the issue of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s anti-party activities was raised and discussed. It was resolved that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has consistently engaged in actions that undermine the interest of the APC at both Local and State levels. These activities include public criticism of party leaders, support for rival political parties, and conduct that has created division and weakened party cohesion in Ilesa East and Osun State.
“In light of this development, the llesa East Local Government Executive Committee hereby resolves to request immediate disciplinary actions against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as provided under Article 23 of APC’s Constitution,” the local APC urged the state leadership.
Responding to the request, the State Executive Committee said it reviewed the allegations and decided to suspend Aregbesola pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations.
“Following complaints of Anti-Party Activities leveled against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the llesa East Local Government Executive Committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC), after reviewing the allegations and in accordance with the powers vested in it by article 21(3) (vi) (c) of the party’s Constitution, hereby suspends Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the party pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations by a Disciplinary Committee.
“The State Executive Committee has constituted a Disciplinary Committee
to investigate and provide Ogbeni Aregbesola with the opportunity to respond to the allegations of activities deemed to be in violation of Article 21 (2) of the party’s Constitution, particularly relating to anti-party activities that undermine the collective interests of the APC leveled against him as follows:
“Factionalisation of the party with the creation of splinter groups i.e. the Omoluabi Caucus; Creation of parallel organs within the party; Working with opposition parties to undermine the APC in the State; Public outbursts against the leaders of the party, including Mr. President, H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), Chief Bisi Akande and H.E. Gboyega Oyetola, among others; An open refusal to show up or support any party activities in the State; and refusal to vote for the party since after the 2019 general elections.
“The Committee is to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the State Executive Committee within 14 days from the date of this resolution. The Disciplinary Committee, pursuant to Article 21 (3), will formally communicate this resolution to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and inform him of his right to appear before it to defend himself against the allegations,” the SEC told the National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
A close ally to Aregbesola, Lani Baderinwa, when contacted on the telephone by The Point simply said, “Blessed be their judgement.”
