Only God can settle conflict between Tinubu, Aregbesola — Adeyeye

Only God can settle conflict between Tinubu, Aregbesola — Adeyeye

Only God Can Heal the Rift Between Tinubu and Aregbesola

In the ever-shifting landscape of Nigerian politics, few relationships have drawn as much attention as that between President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Once allies bound by shared vision and party loyalty, their bond has frayed into a public rift that continues to cast a shadow over the All Progressives Congress (APC). Former Senator Olusola Adeyeye’s recent remarks underscore the depth of this divide, suggesting that reconciliation lies not in the hands of mediators or party elders, but in divine intervention and the willingness of the two men themselves to forgive each other.

Adeyeye, speaking on national television, was candid in his assessment: “When things get to be like this, only the two of them can forgive each other.” His words reflect both the gravity of the conflict and the limitations of political maneuvering in resolving personal grievances. As South-West Coordinator of the APC presidential campaign council, Adeyeye’s concern is not merely sentimental; he views reconciliation as a strategic necessity for Tinubu’s 2027 campaign. 

A united front in the South-West, he argues, is essential if the APC is to retain dominance in the region and secure victory at the polls.

Adeyeye, who is the South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, said he wanted the two political figures brought together because he believed their reconciliation would benefit the APC and Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign..

Yet, the path to unity is complicated. Aregbesola’s current affiliation with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) presents a formidable obstacle. For him to abandon the party would risk alienating his loyal followers, many of whom have invested their political futures in his leadership within the ADC.

Adeyeye acknowledges this reality, noting that such a move “won’t look good to his admirers.” The tension between personal loyalty and political pragmatism is at the heart of this impasse.

Despite these challenges, Adeyeye remains confident in the APC’s prospects. He dismisses the ADC’s performance in recent elections as inconsequential, pointing out that Aregbesola himself was not a candidate. Still, he concedes that Aregbesola’s personal popularity remains formidable.

Were the former governor to contest an election, Adeyeye admits, “anybody would be hard-pressed to beat him in Osun”.

This acknowledgment highlights the paradox: Aregbesola’s influence is undeniable, yet its transferability to other candidates is far from guaranteed.

 “Where he’s not the candidate, even he must not deceive himself that he can automatically take the affection for him to another person,” he said.

Ultimately, Adeyeye’s editorial stance is clear. The reconciliation of Tinubu and Aregbesola is not just a matter of personal healing; it is a political imperative for the APC. But as he soberly observes, no external force can compel forgiveness. Only the two men, guided perhaps by faith and a recognition of the greater good, can bridge the divide. In a political climate often defined by ambition and rivalry,

Adeyeye’s appeal to divine intervention is both a reflection of Nigeria’s deeply spiritual culture and a reminder that some conflicts transcend strategy, they demand humility, grace, and the courage to forgive