Former Senator representing Osun Central, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, has said that few people had as much affection and regard for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, did when the two were political allies.
Adeyeye made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the former political relationship between Tinubu and Aregbesola.
Responding to a question about whether Tinubu misses Aregbesola in his political circle, Adeyeye said the President might not publicly admit it, but argued that the relationship between the two former allies had been exceptionally strong.
According to Adeyeye, Aregbesola had a deep personal and political regard for Tinubu and was willing to go to great lengths for him.
Adeyeye also recalled his own relationship with both men, explaining that he was careful not to create tension between them because of the strength of their political partnership.
He said that while he served as a senator during Aregbesola’s tenure as Osun governor, he maintained a close political relationship with the former governor and regularly sought his approval on important political matters.
Adeyeye also reflected on Aregbesola’s current political relationship with former Senate President David Mark, who is now the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, where Aregbesola serves as National Secretary.
He noted that political relationships can change over time, describing the development as an example of how political circumstances can bring former associates together.
Adeyeye said he had previously attempted to reconcile Tinubu and Aregbesola following the deterioration of their relationship.
He described Aregbesola as someone who held Tinubu in exceptionally high esteem, saying that, in Aregbesola’s view, only God took precedence over the President.
Aregbesola was closely associated with Tinubu’s political camp in Lagos and served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure while Tinubu was governor of Lagos State.
He later secured the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Osun State and became governor in 2010 following a prolonged legal battle.
However, their relationship later deteriorated amid political disagreements in Osun, particularly over the issue of Aregbesola’s successor. Tinubu backed Gboyega Oyetola in the 2018 Osun governorship election.
The disagreement deepened ahead of the 2022 governorship election, eventually leading Aregbesola and his supporters to distance themselves from the APC structure in the state.
Aregbesola subsequently joined the African Democratic Congress, where he now serves as National Secretary as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Adeyeye said the political separation between the former allies did not erase the history of their relationship, noting that political circumstances can change and former allies can sometimes reconnect.
