Politics
How Oyetola threw away his reelection chances, killed APC in Osun — Aregbesola ex-aide
A former Special Adviser, Information and Strategy to ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Semiu Okanlawon, has stated that Governor Gboyega Oyetola may have inadvertently thrown away his chances of getting reelected as Osun State Governor by demonising the administration of his predecessor, where he played a major role as Chief of Staff.
He said Oyetola, by his action, has not only thrown away his reelection through the window, but has also “killed” the All Progressives Congress in the state.
Okanlawon stated this in an opinion piece he penned on Tuesday, which he titled: “Oyetola and the ‘a o m’erin j’oba’ choristers,” published elsewhere on this news website.
He said he confronted Oyetola when he began to exhibit “his operation tear down Aregbesola” tendencies in his early days as the newly-elected governor of the state and warned him how such could cost him dearly.
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He wrote: “As a functionary in that administration, I knew ab initio that any attempt to present Aregbesola as evil was going to hurt Oyetola and his administration more than it would Aregbesola.
“This was the crux of my discussions with him in December 2019 during which I asked whether he thought it possible to extricate himself from whatever happened under the Rauf Aregbesola Administration by virtue of his position at the time.
“Assuming, without conceding, that Aregbesola’s administration was spendthrift or took certain decisions bordering on the finances of the state, including loans, salary issues, infrastructure financing and virtually every general matters, is it possible for Oyetola to be seen as an outsider to what transpired?”
Okanlawon said that with Oyetola’s emergence as Osun State Governor, “no one expected any lull in the advancement of the ‘State of the Virtuous’ in education, job creation, infrastructure rebirth, security, and above all, value re-orientation that hallmarked the administration where he served as the Chief of Staff and as a matter of fact, a major policy egghead.
“But rather than busy himself with these lofty objectives for which continuity would be a preference for public good, a vein, inglorious and totally unnecessary attempt at ‘removing the hands of Aregbesola’ from the politics of Osun was elevated to the level of state objective. If you cannot key into that objective, you certainly cannot matter either in government or the party.
“I have asked myself what were these objectives meant to achieve.”
Okanlawon revealed that it took a lot of effort for leaders of the APC to convince members of the party who totally rejected his candidature as governorship aspirant in the state in 2018.
He wrote: “Knowing the shreds to which his forced candidature turned the party ahead of the 2018 election, we would have been saved the troubles if we had not followed this ignoble path. I recall vividly that the entire executive committee of the APC in Governor Oyetola’s Ward in Iragbiji all resigned from the party to join the African Democratic Party in 2018. I remember calling on the Aragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi, at the time to intervene and not allow APC stalwarts in Oyetola’s homestead bring us all to shame.
“Of course, given the roles I had played previously in the election of the Governor, especially in the face of the total rejection of his candidature, people from my ward and local government were becoming apprehensive. Simply put, the grassroots ‘soldiers’ of the All Progressives Congress were already suspicious something capable of destroying the fabric of the party was going on at the ward levels across the state. They needed information, assurances that the party was not coming in the hands of those who would destroy it. They needed to bring their anxieties to me.
“They kept bombarding me with messages that our party was witnessing something very sinister, the type that could ignite an implosion if nothing was done.”
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Okanlawon said he confronted Oyetola to confirm from him whether he was the one behind the underhand motives to cut Aregbesola into pieces by those he described as Ileri Oluwa leaders.
He said the governor denied knowledge of such moves, adding in the column: “Not convinced that he was unaware of the discriminatory moves and ill-feelings already being created, I went ahead to tell him that any attempt to cast Aregbesola in the image of someone to be discarded was predictably going to blow in the face of everyone.”
He described the present promoters of the governor’s reelection as the ‘a o merin joba crowd who don’t mean well for the elephant.
He said those of them goading Oyetola to go ahead with his reelection are only deceiving him because of their ultimate goal to disgrace him in the end.
Okanlawon said even a cabinet member of the governor had told him that Oyetola had become a hard sell but that no one was ready to tell him the truth just to remain in his good book.
The former Aregbesola aide said the ‘a o merin joba’ crowd will gladly turn back when Oyetola, the elephant, must have ended in the “decorative grave dug for him by those hailing him.”
He wrote: “A o m’erin j’oba (We’ll Make the Elephant King), which, in history, has no parallel in apt dramatisation of deceit, wickedness and fraud usually woven around fame and positions of influence and affluence. In the A o m’erin j’oba tragi-comedy, the elephant, in its obvious majestic size and shape, was led on by a band of deceivers, manipulators all garbed in praise-singers’ attires. Sadly, they had a sinister motive. Those who chorused its praises and assured the elephant of its impending ‘coronation’ had dug his grave where they planned to ditch it once they succeeded in cajoling it to follow them to the venue of ‘coronation’ ceremony.
“The grave was decorated with very attractive, velvets. And so they went for the elephant with singing and dancing.
“Our friend, totally oblivious of the evil plots by its praise-singers, danced on its way to the venue thinking it was its day of honour.
“Alas! On getting to the ‘coronation’ venue, where a beautifully decorated royal chair had been placed, the elephant sank with all its weight into the grave, while the praise-singers went their different paths; some of them jubilating.”
The Eagle
Politics
El‑Rufai Warns He Could Be Arrested Amid Rising Political Tensions
El‑Rufai Warns He Could Be Arrested Amid Rising Political Tensions
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai has raised alarm that he could be arrested at any time by Nigeria’s security agencies, claiming his outspoken criticism of the federal government and the alleged targeting of political opponents may make him a potential target. In an interview with BBC Hausa, El‑Rufai said that although he has not yet been detained, he believes his arrest is imminent, noting that several close associates have already been picked up by security forces. “About four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said, highlighting what he described as political pressure and intimidation of opposition voices.
El‑Rufai alleged that the APC-led federal government is using security and anti-corruption agencies to intimidate dissenting politicians, forcing some to either defect to the ruling party or face punitive action. His remarks come amid heightened political tension in the country and follow the arrest and ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, who faces charges including abuse of office — allegations he describes as politically motivated. Critics say selective targeting of opposition figures undermines democratic principles and escalates mistrust in governance, especially as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections. El‑Rufai’s warning has intensified debates about the independence of law enforcement agencies and their role in political matters.
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Once a key figure in the APC, El‑Rufai has become a vocal critic of parts of the current administration. He claims that officials linked to his past administration have faced repeated investigations and detentions without formal charges, alleging these actions are politically motivated. In a confidential memo dated February 10, 2026, he stated that several former aides and associates had been detained and arraigned on what he called “phantom charges” designed to tarnish reputations and limit political competition.
While he insists he has committed no wrongdoing, El‑Rufai has called for due process and transparency, stressing that Nigeria’s political space must remain free from intimidation and unlawful targeting of opponents. His statement underscores growing concerns about political intimidation and the misuse of security agencies, highlighting the need for institutional independence and protection of opposition voices as the country navigates an increasingly charged political atmosphere.
El‑Rufai Warns He Could Be Arrested Amid Rising Political Tensions
Politics
Cubana Chief Priest Vows to Oppose Peter Obi in 2027 Presidential Race
Cubana Chief Priest Vows to Oppose Peter Obi in 2027 Presidential Race
Popular Nigerian socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has officially announced that he plans to oppose Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential bid, signaling a significant political shift from his previous support for the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 elections.
The revelation came during an interactive session with his followers on Instagram, where questions about his political alignment and involvement in the City Boy Movement (CBM), a key youth support group for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prompted a candid response. Cubana Chief Priest affirmed his opposition, stating, “Yes oh, hope say no be crime, because I worked for Obi last election even as special adviser to an APC governor.”
His announcement quickly generated mixed reactions on social media. Critics reminded him of past encounters with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noting that the government he now supports previously investigated him. He responded with confidence, declaring, “If you never go EFCC for Naija, you never make am.”
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The discussion also touched on regional development in the South-East, with commenters suggesting stronger unity could have helped Obi in 2023. Cubana Chief Priest replied sharply, urging supporters to back candidates of their choice and questioning the tangible impact of political arguments on regional progress.
Cubana Chief Priest’s shift coincides with another high-profile appointment: his close associate, Obi Cubana, was named South-East Director of the City Boy Movement, a move announced by Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This development has fueled discussions on the growing influence of South-East businessmen and celebrities in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts note that Cubana Chief Priest’s declaration underscores the increasing role of celebrities and social influencers in shaping voter sentiment, particularly among youth and urban populations, and highlights the interplay between entertainment, social media presence, and political mobilization.
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, Cubana Chief Priest’s public opposition to Peter Obi is likely to intensify political debates and influence early election dynamics, especially among supporters and detractors in key demographic groups.
Cubana Chief Priest Vows to Oppose Peter Obi in 2027 Presidential Race
Politics
El-Rufai: I Supported Tinubu Out of Party Principle, Not Friendship
El-Rufai: I Supported Tinubu Out of Party Principle, Not Friendship
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that he never had a personal or political relationship with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that their political paths were never destined to align.
El-Rufai, now a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks in a television interview, dismissing claims that he and Tinubu were once friends or political allies.
“I think it’s important to make this clarification. There is an assumption that I was ever Tinubu’s friend. I was not. We never got along with Tinubu. We never had a personal relationship,” he said.
He explained that his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election was not driven by personal loyalty but by political principle and party discipline within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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“For me, Tinubu was initially just an aspirant of the party. I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the South-West and asked to support the emergence of a South-West Muslim presidential candidate,” he added.
El-Rufai noted that his backing of Tinubu was rooted in an understanding within the APC that after eight years of former President Buhari, power would shift to the South-West, and that his commitment was strictly principle-driven, not personal.
He further stated that once Tinubu emerged as the party’s candidate, he fully worked to ensure APC’s victory, highlighting his belief in supporting the official party candidate, regardless of personal preference.
However, El-Rufai said that fundamental differences in values and governance philosophy eventually created a widening gap between him and Tinubu. “We didn’t fall out; we just couldn’t find areas of agreement,” he explained, underscoring their incompatible approaches to leadership and public service.
Political analysts suggest that El-Rufai’s remarks signal growing ideological divergence within APC and reflect his efforts to distinguish his ADC platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
El-Rufai: I Supported Tinubu Out of Party Principle, Not Friendship
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