The political rift between former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and President Bola Tinubu has once again sparked debate with a member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, advising the former to swallow his pride and seek reconciliation.
Oke, a lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, made the call in a social media post on Sunday.
He wrote: “If I were in his shoes, I would go and beg, prostrate, and make peace with my principal, PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu).”
For Aregbesola, who was once a trusted ally of Tinubu, the road back to the APC power circle seems increasingly uncertain.
His political movement, Omoluabi Progressives, recently broke away from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.
In the post. Oke, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked both parties to sheath their swords.
He described the former minister as a political asset that any party would be eager to court.
“The PDP must act fast, pay the necessary dowry, and bring this ‘bride’ into their fold. Symbol, as he is popularly known, is not someone you let wander,” he wrote.
Oke’s assessment is grounded in numbers. According to him, Aregbesola still holds the power to mobilize 20,000 votes in the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District—an influence too significant to ignore.
“Even though I wasn’t in Aregbesola’s party—AC, ACN, or APC—I still won my elections. The great people of Ijesa North made that happen. In Ijesa North and Ijesa South, Ogbeni’s influence is undeniable,” he stated.
With the Osun APC divided, Oke believes the PDP must act quickly. If Aregbesola cannot mend fences with Tinubu and the APC, he suggests the former governor could be a game-changer for the PDP in Osun.
“Any politician who can invite 10 to 20 people to a meeting, feed them, and provide them with a token afterward should not be ignored,” he noted, emphasizing Aregbesola’s ability to maintain grassroots connections.
Oke’s message is clear: Aregbesola must choose his next steps carefully.
He can either seek forgiveness from Tinubu, rejoin the APC, and rebuild his political standing—or he can embrace the PDP’s open arms and shake up the political landscape in Osun.
For now, it remains to be seen whether Aregbesola will bend the knee or carve a new path. Either way, the battle for Osun’s political soul is far from over.
“Baba Kabiru is a factor in Osun politics. Please keep this post and get back to me after 2026,” Oke concluded.