My advice to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on new adventure in ADC, by Adejare Ibrahim

The Atiku faction of the opposition coalition have adopted ADC as their final abode. Congratulations to them.

David Mark is their Protem National Chairman and Ọgbẹni Aregbesola is their Protem National Secretary.

I don’t have issues with David Mark, Atiku or any politician who wish to join forces with one another to tackle President Tinubu. It is their personal choices, and so be it.

Opposition, as they say, is the spice of democracy. The opposition gives the ruling party a run for their money. This adds flavour to the polity and politics.

However, the only person I have issues with is our own Ogbeni Abdur-Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, Ọmọ Iya Olobi.

First, I don’t blame Ọgbẹni Aregbesola for the choice he has made. He is at liberty to pitch a tent or team up with whomsoever he wishes. Ọgbẹni is not a greenhorn in politics. I call him Agba Oselu Baba Kabiru.

Nevertheless, what I will say to Aregbe is “et tu, Brute”? Those who are vast in literature understand me, but I will explain it to those who do not.

The quote appears in Act 3 Scene 1 of William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, where it is spoken by the Roman Dictator, Julius Caesar, at the moment of his assassination, to his friend Marcus Junius Brutus, upon recognizing him as one of the assassins.

I will say the same thing to Ọgbẹni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. Et tu, Ọgbẹni? This is a Latin phrase, literally meaning “and you, Ogbeni?” or “you as well, Ọgbẹni?” or “you too, Ọgbẹni?”

There are some things an ọmọluabi should not be found in. Ti wọn ba rànni ni iṣẹ ẹru, o ye ka fi t’ọmọ jẹ. Ọjọ ore pẹ; aṣiwere gbàgbé. Anyway, bi ore ba sọnu, ìrègún làá fi wàa.

Try to understand me. I can never call Ọgbẹni aṣiwere. Never! It’s beyond me. I am just using the adage to buttress my points.

It shouldn’t be a whole Aregbe that will be found in this kind of messy situation. It is quite sad and unfortunate that the person (the late Alaafin) who could talk to him is no more alive.

So, Aregbesola will be leading or presiding over meetings and campaigns where Asiwaju’s downfall will be hatched and designed? What will his conscience be telling him?

How would it sound to him, on the eve of 2027 presidential election, when he’s toiling and exerting himself to the fullest and someone asked him “what are you doing”, and Aregbe would answer “I’m plotting the downfall of Asiwaju Tinubu”? Haaaaa!

What lessons is he teaching us, his longtime admirers? Has Ogbeni forgotten the old ties and relationships between him and Asiwaju – a relationship no one on the surface of the earth could interpret?

Has Ogbeni forgotten their joint struggles in the hard times when it was only him and Asiwaju, and no third party except God? No one can tell me he has swiftly forgotten those nostalgic moments.

Ọgbẹni Aregbesola should remember that single day, the 26th of November 2010, when he was sworn-in as the Executive Governor of Osun State, after a long and protracted legal tussle to regain his stolen mandate.

On that very day, I listened to Ọgbẹni on OSBC when he said “lẹyìn ti mo ti dupẹ fún Ọlọhun, mo fẹ fi àsìkò yìí dupẹ l’ọwọ Oga mi, alaanu mi, olóore mi, Asiwaju Bọla Ahmed Tinubu, ọla wọn ni mo fi di gómìnà ìpínlẹ̀ Òsun”. He stated further: Asiwaju o gba nkankan l’ọwọ mi. Ẹ ṣe mo dupẹ.

If he has forgotten every other things, he should not forget that particular day. That day should remain eternal in his heart. I’m stating this, so as to let our people know how deeply and extensively Asiwaju had lifted and stood by Aregbesola in critical times of needs.

Should it be that same Ọgbẹni, that Asiwaju gave his all for his success, that will be teaming up with his enemies to work against? Honestly, human beings can be so complex.