Former Governor of Ogun State and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has denied the existence of bad blood between him and the incumbent Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
According to Osoba, he was old enough to be Amosun’s father, hence there could not be any rift between them.
The former governor was reacting to the alleged internal wrangling in the Ogun State chapter of the APC, which led to the party having parallel excos in the state with one faction loyal to Osoba and the other loyal to Amosun.
The celebrated journalist noted that rather than see him as a threat, Gov. Amosun ought to approach party members in the state for amicable settlement of any perceived rift.
He said, “Where did you hear in Yoruba land that a father would be taken to his son to settle a rift? I am 75 years old. He is 56. I am old enough to be his father. Would I now sit down and be exchanging words with someone young enough to be my child?”
He added, “I have no problem with him. He only has to make peace with the party members; not me. I have said it, let nobody moot the idea that they are bringing him to me. Let him go to the party members whom he is joining issues with”.
Osoba, who governed the state from 1999-2003, stressed that he was not the issue in any political calculations in the state as he neither had political ambitions nor was he seeking any elective office.
He said, “I am not the issue. What else do I want to be? Is it president or Vice-President? By the special grace of God, I am 75 years old. If at 75 I am still relevant politically, shouldn’t I be thanking God? How many of my peers in journalism are still relevant, save Alhaji Lateef Jakande? I have cause to thank God. I am not contending with anybody over anything”.
On why the state chapter of the APC was divided into factions, Osoba, who is a delegate at the ongoing national conference representing former state governors, said, “It is the party members who know why they did that. You should speak with them, not me. I am thankful to God for bringing me this far. In journalism, politics and social circles, people still give me respect. What else do I want? I should not press it too much. We have all the senators in the state, House of Reps members, and other party stalwarts. We have Odunsi, Gbenga Kaka who is also a former deputy governor. There are a lot of good people you can speak with”.
Information Nigeria had earlier reported that Osoba had vowed not to reconcile with Amosun even as his loyalists have reportedly opened a fresh register in all the wards of the Gateway state to accommodate their members.
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