Former Osun State Governor and ex-Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday accused the current federal administration of abandoning what he described as the core progressive principles championed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige and other foundational figures of the movement.
Aregbesola, who now serves as the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, made the remarks during a reception held in his honour in Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area within the Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency.
Addressing a large gathering of supporters, he said residents across the three local government areas turned out in significant numbers to welcome him and his team, noting that the reception reflected a growing appetite for political change.
He declared, “It is time to restore a people-friendly government and return the progressive forces to power,” framing his message as a call to revive what he described as the authentic progressive tradition in Yoruba politics.
Aregbesola, who governed Osun State from 2010 to 2018, also expressed appreciation to the Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi Lambeloye III, and the council of chiefs for the warm reception and royal blessings extended towards what he described as “our new political journey.”
His comments add to ongoing debates within Nigeria’s political landscape, where internal divisions among former allies and shifts in ideological alignments have continued to shape party dynamics across the Southwest.
