How Alake, Awujale and leaders facilitated my return to APC – Osoba

Facts have emerged on how the former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba was persuaded to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), by some eminent Nigerians on Sunday.

Against what was widely reported in the newspapers, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on Tuesday, said South West leaders of the All Progressives Congress came to his Lagos-home on Sunday pleading for his return to the party after he had been persuaded by the paramount rulers of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Micheal Adedotun Gbadebo.

The former governor, while speaking on the meeting which announced his return from Social Democratic Party (SDP) to APC, debunked the reports that he hosted the South West leaders of the party in his house, saying that the mission was to plead with him to return to APC.

Osoba, who spoke during his remarks at the public presentation of a book titled ‘Alake of Egbaland: the Succession Dynamics’ in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, blamed the press for the public misconception of the meeting.

The 127 page book bearing five chapters, was authored by the foremost Egba politician and industrialist, Chief Alani Bankole, who is the father of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.

Osoba noted that the pleading by the APC leaders in Yorubaland for him to return to the party has been on for quite some times and still continues, adding that the two prominent traditional rulers of Ijebu and Egbaland also played major role in the truce.

The former governor said the occasion of the book launch was not a time for political speech making, adding that it is better left for a later date in future.

He said, “There are other things that I would say about Alake but not here today because the story of what happened on Sunday when the entire APC came to plead with me, people are making mistake that I hosted South West meeting.

“They came to plead with me and the pleading had been on; and the role of Alake and Awujale, this is not the occasion to say it because this is not a political gathering.

“So, I want to thank Kabiyesi for what happened on Sunday; he has always been with me and God will always be with you, Kabiyesi. ‎By the grace of God, Egbaland will continue to flourish.”

Osoba also took a swipe at his predecessors in office, former Governor Gbenga Daniel and Governor Ibikunle Amosun for not paying his severance allowance since he left office.

He also lambasted his predecessors for not replacing his driver and steward after their deaths, adding that his cook who also retired was not replaced by the government.

And in a brief encounter with the press shortly after launching the book with half a million naira, Osoba said he is a founding member of APC and would remain a progressive politician till the end of his sojourn on earth.

The book which captured the ascension to the throne of the new Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Dr. Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, was reviewed by the pioneer Vice – Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Prof. Olukayode Oyesiku.