Former Osun Central Senator Olusola Adeyeye has said only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola can resolve the lingering differences between them.
Adeyeye spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics while responding to questions about whether anyone could successfully reconcile the two political figures.
“I don’t know; only God knows. When things get to be like this, only the two of them can forgive each other,” he said.
Adeyeye, who serves as the South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, said he would welcome a reconciliation because he believes bringing the two politicians together would benefit the party and Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.
“My wish would be for my party and for the president, because I want the president to win, and if he must, we must bring everybody together,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that Aregbesola’s current political affiliation could make such a reunion difficult.
Aregbesola is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), an opposition party, and Adeyeye said it would be difficult for him to abandon the party without disappointing his supporters.
“It won’t look good to his admirers, especially those who follow him to that party,” he said.
Adeyeye also expressed confidence that the APC would retain the South-West in the 2027 presidential election, saying the party would need to remain united and work hard across the region.
“I make bold: anyone from any party who thinks the next election will be easy for it is suffering self-delusion. We in the APC, we work very hard to win, and I want to assure you that we will win,” he said.
“I also want to assure you. We will win big. I care that we win the South-West, and we’re going to shock everybody.”
The former senator dismissed suggestions that Aregbesola’s association with the ADC posed a major threat to the APC, particularly in Osun State.
He questioned the ADC’s performance in the August 15, 2026 governorship election, including in Ilesa and Osun Central, while acknowledging that Aregbesola was not a candidate in the election.
“How did the ADC perform, even in Ilesa? How did Aregbesola perform in Osun Central, where I come from?” he asked.
Adeyeye, however, acknowledged Aregbesola’s popularity in Osun, saying the former governor would remain a formidable political figure if he personally contested an election.
“If Aregbesola is the candidate, it’s a different matter,” he said.
“The truth is he’s still a magnificent person, much loved. If he were a candidate, believe you me, anybody would be hard-pressed to beat him in Osun,” Adeyeye added.
He nevertheless argued that Aregbesola’s personal popularity should not automatically translate into support for another candidate.
“Where he’s not the candidate, even he must not deceive himself that he can automatically take the affection for him to another person,” Adeyeye said.