The gale of alignment, realignment and defections by political gladiators that characterises the political terrain of Osun State dictates its dynamism.
Succinct study of Osun politics revealed democracy in action, with the people deciding who leads them irrespective of political, religious or sectional affiliation.
This was made manifest in the past as it manifested in elections into office of past civilian governors, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke a Muslim from Osun West, Chief Adebisi Akande, a Muslim from Osun Central Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a Christian from Osun Central, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, a Muslim from Osun East, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, a Muslim from Osun Central and the incumbent, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, a Muslim from Osun West.
Prominent among political gladiators that have shaped Nigeria’s political landscape at the national level included, Chief Adebisi Akande, the pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Congress that midwifed the party to Aso Rock.
Also, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was a former governor like Chief Bisi Akande in the state rose to become the National Secretary of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The revolution that emanated in the emergence of the New Peoples Democratic Party (NPDP) was led by Oyinlola in the face of intimidation within his PDP.
History will not forget the emergence of Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, a former deputy governor in the state who emerged the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, under which Exco, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected.
The current political climate in Osun is such that prominent gladiators may go into oblivion at least for a while if the trend of event persists and allowed to continue to flourish.
For instance, prominent traditional political gladiators identified with the PDP cannot be said to be in control of the party any longer though not outrightly out of the party, but maintaing sit-down-look as they are still struggling to stay afloat the troubled waters.
The party was literarily initially polarised along Hon. Sunday Bisi led faction backed by the Adeleke dynasty and that of late Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo supported by most PDP founding fathers and the division remained visible till today.
The founding fathers of the party in the state such as, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dr. Olu Alabi, Erelu Olusola Obada, Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade and others including, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Hon. Dosu Ladiipo, Elder Funso Ishola, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladiipo, among others are no longer featuring prominently in the affairs of the party,
The Adeleke political tsunami though not absolutely swept them off political terrain, but they are no doubt susceptible to it hence, their associates who are also formidable politicians such as, Omooba Dotun Babayemi, a governorship aspirant under the party and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi a major contender to Governor Ademola Adeleke governorship aspirations are struggling to remain afloat Osun political waters.
With the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the executive governor of Osun State, a new PDP has emerged in Osun parading few old politicians such as, Senator Felix Ogunwale, Senator Lere Oyewumi, Hon. Gani Olaoluwa, Dr Peter Babalola, Hon. Festus Adeyemo, Prof Wale Oladiipo, Hon Mayowa Adejoorin among others.
The leading opposition party, the All Progressives Congress APC is not left out of the turning scenario as it no doubt lost its bid to continue in power to division along the Oranmiyan group under the immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and IleriOluwa group under the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.
The Oranmiyan group formed the defunct splinter group known as The Osun Progressives (TOP) under the leadership of Rev. Adelowo Adebiyi from where the parallel APC faction with Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile and Hon. Lani Baderinwa as chairman and secretary respectively emanated.
As the battle to have the soul of the party between the IleriOluwa group in whose possession it is and the Oranmiyan group who has dissolved their splinter group to get into the main steam of the party rages, political pundits are of the opinion that it may not be that easy especially for the Oranmiyan group to have it.
While the Aregbesola group are agitating for the restructuring of the party, the Oyetola group are saying that there is nothing to restructure because the required structure has been put in place and that what the party need is repositioning and reorganization hence the setting up of a committee headed by former minister of Health, Dr Isaac Adewole by the leader of the party, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.
Currently, the known acting chairman of the party is Sooko Tajudeen Adewoyin following the exit of the chairman, Adegboyega Famodun who is now the monarch of Igbajo, in Boluwaduro local government area of the state.
Prominent among the associates of Aregbesola that are in Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration include Mr Biyi Odunlade, Barr Kolapo Alimi, both commissioners, and Hon. Rasaq Salinsile board chairman, Sekinat Temilade Special Adviser to buttress IleriOluwa group insistence that Aregbesola helped Adeleke to win Osun for PDP.
Meanwhile, gladiators such as former Speaker Najeem Salami, former chairman of the party and Secretary to Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti Hon. Gbenga Akano, Abiodun Agboola, kehinde Moroukeji, Gbenga Ogunkami , Sikiru Ayedun, Hon. Lani Baderinwa among others are still solidly in Aregbesola’s camp
In Oyetola’s camp are the father of them all, Chief Bisi Akande, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Ajibola Basiru, Dr. Isaac Adewole, Hon. Famurewa, Sooko Lekan Adewoyin, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, former Osun Speaker, Hon. Adejare Bello, Tiamiyu Bello, Adeleke Adebayo, Remi Omowaye, Oluomo Sunday Akere, Jelil Adesiyan among others.
Though Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola on whose horse the APC rose to prominence again in Osun played prominent role in ensuring that Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola became the governor of Osun State but things began to fell apart when Aregbesola accused Oyetola of pulling down some of his legacies in government and ignoring his associates in scheme of things in the state.
The tussle for the soul of the party by the two political gladiators polarized the party and efforts by leaders of the party including the pioneer national chairman, Bisi Akande, and the leader of the party then and now president of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to settle the rift proved futile as both of them were said to had refused shift ground.
It was gathered that the feud between Aregbesola and Oyetola was among the issues that brought division between Tinubu and Aregbesola with Aregbesola believing that Tinubu was taking the side of his brother, Oyetola.
With President Bola Tinubu as the President of Nigeria and Senator Ajibola Basiru emerging as possible replacement for Omisore, and Oyetola possibly emerging as minister as it may be, the political fortune of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osun no doubt may suffer setback definitely now and in the nearest future.
Meanwhile, Oyetola who had served the party at the national level is also consolidating his grip on the party with the recent defection of a prominent political gladiator in the state in person of Dr Akin Ogunbiyi.
Ogunbiyi who slugged it our with Senator Ademola Adeleke at the PDP primary election in 2018 and lost marginally pulled out of the party to contest the gubernatorial election of 2022 on the platform of Accord party.
