Ishaq Kunle Sanni and his warped view about Aregbesola/Oyetola feud, by Ismail Omipidan
I have just finished reading Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni’s beautiful piece titled “Wanted: A Jubril Aminu in Tinubu’s Government.” From the title, one would think that the piece is merely an advocacy or a call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to treat South-West Muslims with some modicum of respect and dignity by placing them in some strategic positions that would enable them serve both the government and humanity.
Like many Muslims from the South-West, I too believe that Tinubu’s administration has not treated the Ummah from this region fairly or justly, especially considering the significant role we played in the political battle that led to his emergence as president.
However, while the marginalisation of the South-West Muslims by the Tinubu’s administration remains very glaring, we must also acknowledge our own shortcomings. We have not helped our cause through our persistent lack of organisation. Too often, we pursue personal interests rather than a collective agenda. Until we shift from agonising to organising, and from fragmentation to unity, we will continue to face this challenge.
I recall when the appointment of Dr. Charles Akinola was announced as the MD of South-West Development Commission, President Tinubu and my former principal, H. E Oyetola, was taken to task by some of the South-West muslims. None, however, remembered that Dr. Akinola, who had served Oyetola as Chief of Staff, played a leading role in the establishment of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission for regional integration.
I am aware that he chaired the Technical Committee of the South-West Development Commission, under the South-West Governors’ Forum. He led the review of the SWDC Bill and coordinated regional consensus on development priorities. Therefore, as I argued then, and still maintain now, it is only natural that he should be given the opportunity to drive the project, now that it has materialised.
Not many agreed with me at the time. Some saw my position as a mere defense of President Tinubu and my former principal. That’s fine. However, it will not stop me from addressing the issues raised by my elder, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, particularly his claim that President Tinubu was the architect of the feud between Aregbesola and Oyetola.
Egbon, I know that you are usually emotional and sentimental when it comes to matters concerning Aregbesola. That’s human and you can be forgiven for that, but please, let us always be guided by the dictum: opinion is free, but facts are sacred. You were in the delegation of the Muslim Ummah South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) that visited Oyetola all in attempt to resolve the rift. Given what you heard during that solemn and sincere engagement, how can you, in good conscience, come out in public to assert that Tinubu was the architect of the rift between Oyetola and Aregbesola? Fear Allah. Let us be truthful, even when it’s difficult.
As a journalist and later as an insider, here are the things I know: One, from day one, Aregbesola’s agenda the moment he became Osun State Governor was to see how he would emerge the defacto South-West political leader. This was the reason he embarked on so many ambitious programmes and projects including attempting to re-construct a road from Orile-Owu, in Osun State to Ogun State.
Two, Aregbesola had openly declared to all who cared to listen that Oyetola’s tenure would be his ‘third term,’ confidently assuring outgoing cabinet members that the majority of them would return. In line with this assertion, he went ahead to appoint a Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and a Chief of Staff (CoS) for Oyetola. Whether deliberate or coincidental, both nominees were Muslims from the Osun West Senatorial District of Osun State, a state where Aregbesola himself had previously recognised the rights of traditional worshippers, a gesture you, Alhaji Sanni, justified and applauded to high heavens at the time.
While Oyetola rejected the choice of CoS because according to him, such a critical position must be filled by someone he personally knew well and trusted for competence and capacity, he had little choice over that of the SSG. Ironically, the SSG-designate, who was the serving Speaker of the State Assembly at the time, could not resign his position to accept the appointment. Instead, he nominated a placeholder, Wole Oyebamiji, a respected broadcaster and committed progressive. As fate would have it, the placeholder ended up serving out the full term, while the former Speaker eventually secured a lucrative federal appointment.
Three, in the heat of the crisis, a crucial meeting was convened in Ila, which was attended by Tinubu, Oyetola, Aregbesola, and Baba Bisi Akande. Aregbesola was the custodian of that meeting’s proceedings. He prepared the clean copy of the major decisions reached at that meeting and forwarded it to Baba Akande. But the question remains: did Aregbesola ever abide by any of those resolutions? Let him answer that truthfully.
Four, in 2020 when Aregbesola and Senator Ajibola Basiru, the current APC National Secretary were planning to celebrate what they referred to as “10 years of unbroken progressive rule in Osun,” as Oyetola’s spokesperson at the time, I was advised by him to steer clear of the matter. However, as a political communication strategist, I understood the implications. I knew that allowing that to happen would rub off on his image as a sitting governor, considering that what they were planning coincided with our own second year in office. We were billed to travel. I feigned ill, and pleaded with my then principal that I wouldn’t be available. Once he left the state, I went to work to expose the hypocrisy and inconsistencies in the planned 10th year anniversary.
For instance, when Aregbesola’s spokesperson, Sola Fasure was first asked about the proposed celebration, he had said: “Yes, he (Aregbesola) is planning to celebrate ( 10th year anniversary) it. This is the 10th anniversary of bringing in progressive government to Osun. That includes eight years of his own tenure and two years of the (Oyetola) current administration. Is there anything wrong with that? Sincerely, I don’t even think we should be debating that.”
But following my intervention, he tried to modify his position the next day, saying “The Minister is coming principally to carry out the presidential directive that all cabinet members should go back to their respective states and engage the governor, youths and other critical stakeholders on the issue of security challenges we face in the country, especially on #EndSARS.
“He has written to the Governor to inform him that he will be in Osun and that his coming coincides with the 10th anniversary of the return of the All Progressives Congress administration in Osun.”
As we can see, in one breath, Fasure said his principal was coming to celebrate the 10th anniversary of bringing of progressive government to Osun. In another breath, he said his boss was coming to carry out presidential directive on #EndSARS matter. Haba!
By the way, was progressive government really 10 years old in Osun at the time? Were they saying Baba Akande’s four years’ administration was not part of progressive government in the state?
At any rate, the letter being referenced by Fasure was sent the same day he rushed to press to make his first claim, which was a clear case of an afterthought.
Anyway, in the end, I understood that Tinubu had impressed it on Aregbesola to hold his anniversary, but it should not be when Oyetola was marking his second year anniversary. So, how in all of these, can any sane mind claim that Tinubu was the architect of Oyetola/ Aregbesola feud?. Egbon Sanni, I want to believe you are one of those who were in a vantage position to pull Aregbesola back, when he was heading in the wrong direction. Now, I know why Aregbesola strayed. May Allah lead us all to the right path and not the path of those that have gone astray.
While I agree with Egbon Sanni that we need a Jubril Aminu in Tinubu’s government, the point I am making is, if we must deal with the case of marginalisation of the South-West Muslims, let’s deal with it squarely and not hide under one finger to attempt to paint Aregbesola as a hero, while presenting Oyetola and Tinubu as villains. Ko le work, sir.
