Osun politics took a new turn at the Senate chamber when lawmakers in the People Democratic Party threw in their support behind the former governor of the State, Gboyega Oyetola.
Oyetola, a ministerial nominee of President Bola Tinubu appeared in the Red Chamber on Friday for his screening.
The PUNCH reports that both parties have been at loggerheads in the state since the emergence of Senator Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State.
There have been various fights and bickering between both political parties particularly since Oyetola lost the governorship seat to Adeleke.
Recently, the Osun State APC has described the commissioner-nominees rolled out by Adeleke as the worst assemblage of government actors that would ever be witnessed in the history of the state.
This was some days after the PDP accused the former Senate spokesperson Ajibola Basiru of submitting the names of its party chieftains to Security operatives.
The most viral of their fracas was that of a clash that occurred due to a sitting arrangement at the Osogbo Eid praying ground between some aides of Osun State Governor and Basiru.
Basiru had arrived at the praying ground alongside some prominent Osogbo indigenes for the Eid-el Kabir prayers and while waiting for the prayers to commence, it was learned that some people believed to be the governor’s aides informed him he was occupying the spot reserved for Adeleke and was asked to move to the second row.
The instruction led to disagreement, but Basiru was observed moving from where he earlier sat.
The narrative, however, took a twist when opposition lawmakers stood solidly behind the former governor during his screening.
Oyetola, having read out his resume particularly his achievements as Osun State governor, the Osun lawmakers pleaded with his colleagues to allow “ their brother” to take a bow.
In particular, the Deputy minority leader, Olalere Oyewunmi (Osun West) congratulated the former Osun governor and gave him their full support including that of the governor.
Oyewunmi said, “I want to congratulate you for being found worthy to have been nominated by the president as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The man standing before us has many accolades. When our brother from Ogun State, particularly the one from Ekiti State, Dele Alake was here, the senator from Ekiti described him as Ajiroba ( The one that wakes up to see the king) but the man standing before us today is more than an Ajiroba, he is an Abobaji ( The one who sleeps and wakes up with the king).”
He added, “Because they say blood is thicker than water, the three PDP lawmakers from Osun State, yesterday met with our governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and I am speaking on his behalf and he told us to give our total support to Mr Adegboyega Oyetola as the next minister from Osun state.
“Osun state is a young state yearning for development and we believe that it can come from anybody and he is one of our leaders.
“And we believe that if we work together Osun state will be better. We have no objection to his nominations and we believe he would perform.
Earlier, Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) praised the former governor as well as applauded him for his economic exploits in Osun state.
He said, “I thank the president for finding Osun State worthy of a ministerial nomination.
“We both attended the University of Lagos although I was a year ahead of him. Oyetola was one of the pioneer students of Insurance in UNILAG and he brought his financial expertise to play in the state.”
He then added, “He is also a strong lawyer and a faithful ally of President Bola Tinubu. He has been in private and public life for over 30 years.
“My distinguished colleagues, I brought to you a man that has performed very well. He is a man of repute, a good manager of wealth and people.”
“My distinguished colleagues, I bring a man that has performed to the best of his own ability and to our own admiration, to you to please kindly at the end of the day approve his nomination by the President.”
In his remarks, the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio said, “This is very good for Democracy in Nigeria when you see an opposition party speaking on behalf of a nominee from the majority party.
“That is why the Senate is totally different, we speak on behalf of everybody irrespective of party lines.
“I am very delighted about what you people have said. Hearing from the horse’s mouth, I don’t think we have much to say to you, Mr nominee.”
