Aregbesola to lead opposition against Tinubu’s re-election bid in Southwest
Former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is reportedly being positioned to spearhead an opposition coalition in the Southwest to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Sources told SentinelNewsNg.com that key opposition figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai—have entrusted Aregbesola with the task of countering Tinubu’s political influence.
This development was said to be part of discussions between Atiku and Aregbesola during the weekend visit to the latter’s Ilesha residence on his way for the coronation of the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland.
Confirming that Aregbesola is officially working for Atiku and Obi, former Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in Osun State, ‘Lowo Adebiyi, said that the ex-governor is now formally part of a coalition being led by Atiku.
A video clip of the visit showed Atiku, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, and their allies being treated to a grand welcome by Aregbesola and his men.
On hands were Aregbesola’s drummers and praise singers, hailing Atiku and chanting “2027, Tinubu yio lule ni!” –2027, Tinubu will fall or be defeated!
Aregbesola, once a staunch Tinubu loyalist, fell apart with him in recent years. The feud saw Aregbesola leading his supporters, known as Omoluabi Progressives, out of the Osun State All Progressives Congress in January.
While the Omoluabi Progressives had not disclosed their next destination after the APC exit, Friday’s visit by Atiku raised suspicion that Aregbesola might have decided to team up with Atiku against Tinubu in 2027.
When approached to shed light on the purpose of Atiku’s meeting and what was discussed between the two politicians, Adebiyi, who was present during the Friday meeting, declared: “All I will say for now is that Aregbesola is already part of a coalition Atiku is leading.”
When asked if Atiku and Aregbesola discussed the anti-Tinubu coalition and the strategy to defeat Tinubu in 2027, Adebiyi, speaking in Yoruba language, explained: “The ex-Vice President and his entourage paid Aregbesola a visit and we entertained them with breakfast. No more, no less. Be patient, other things you want to know will be revealed in no distant future.”
Another of Aregbesola’s men, who spoke on condition of anonymity because those who witnessed the event had been barred from speaking to the media, equally dubbed the meeting “a private breakfast meeting”.
The source said, “Atiku and his men were in Ilesa for the coronation ceremony of the new Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup.
“There was no private discussion as such. We were all in the living room, and we later shared breakfast. But Atiku, Sambo and Aregbesola, with some other close aides and associates, later left for Ilesa Grammar School in the same bus provided by the host for the reception being held for Oba Haastrup.
“They got to Ilesa Gramms around 12 pm and from there, Atiku and his people left for Owa’s palace in Ilesa, but Aregbesola didn’t follow them to Owa’s palace. If they had any private discussion, that must have happened while they travelled together from the Amuta area of Ilesa to Ilesa Grammar School.”
The Atiku-Aregbesola meeting adds an interesting slant to the 2027 presidential race.
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