Aregbesola, Oyetola’s political fallout was a clear way to my victory — Adeleke

By Uthman Salami

The Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Osun Governor-Elect, has said the disagreement between the former Governor of the State who is the current Minister of Internal Affairs and his successor, the outgoing governor of Osun State, Governor Gboyega Oyetola had paved a way to victory for him.

The senator also said he did not work with Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, during the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state even though some of the former’s allies joined his campaign train.

Adeleke made this known during a pre-recorded interview that aired yesterday on Channels Television’s flagship Programme, ‘Politics Today.’

Adeleke said, “I did not work with Aregbesola, I did not even talk to him.”

Nevertheless, Adeleke said he has been in talks with a few associates of the minister, including Kolapo Alimi who used to be a commissioner when Aregbesola was at the helm of affairs in Osun, but eventually defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“During the tribunal, Alimi was one of the lawyers who represented Oyetola then, so anytime I see them in the court, because I am a civilized person, I will go to them and greet them and say how are you, how are you doing.

“It was later that he apologized and he told me he has been thinking ‘why is Senator Adeleke greeting me? We are trying to mess him up and he is still greeting me.

“I believe Oyetola and Aregbesola fell out and Alimi came to me and said he has watched me and that he wants to join our party and we said come on in.”

The Senator affirmed that as at the time Aregbesola and Oyetola had fallen out, it was a strong indication that his victory was assured.

He, however, stressed that though Aregbesola’s allies might have joined the PDP and worked with him, it is not clear that the Minister orchestrated their moves since he never had a one-on-one conversation or agreement with the Minister.