7. Osun at 29 and APC internal wrangling
As usual, on August 29, Osun celebrated its creation anniversary. This time, the state was 29. Yes, the celebration went well. However, before the celebration, APC internal crisis took center stage as an article written by a group called Osun Network of Equity and Social Justice and published in the Nation Newspaper of August 28, 2020. The article called on the leaders of the APC not to allow Governor Gboyega Oyetola contest for second term in 2022. They insisted that the ticket should be zoned to Osun West.
In response to this, the APC leaders in the west Senatorial District on Friday, August 22, summoned an emergency meeting and held a press conference after the meeting, where they rejected the article and its content in entirety. This brought to the fore the internal crisis within the APC, with some fingering Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s caucus as being behind the article.
8. Aregbesola vs Oyetola
Even though followers of the two leaders were denying rancour between them, but their actions and moves were clear indications of fractured relationship. Oyetola was Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff for eight years but was obviously not his preferred choice of successor. Late in 2019, Aregbesola was turbaned as Waziri-l-mumina in Osogbo and only one of Oyetola’s cabinet members was in attendance. This was brought into 2020 and it degenerated to crisis in the year.
The tones of discord was propagated and made a statewide discuss by followers of the duo in October and November.
After months of cold war, former Governor Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu called the duo to a reconcilation meeting and the matter was “settled”.
9. The EndSARS protests
EndSARS protest was an organic movement across the word. Youths of Osun never took backseats as they were active and voracious in adding their voices to end police brutality across Nigeria. As expected during every protest in Osogbo, Olaiya junction was their base. They blocked the four roads on daily basis. The protest became part of daily discuss in Osun following attacks of protesters by alleged “Government sponsored thugs”. Also, motorists and passers-by were crying of the hardship imposed on them by the blockade of Olaiya junction.
At the tail of the protest, there was a division in the rank of the leaders of the movement. This led to accusations over accusations as both camps were defending and attacking at a time. Some of them were arrested by police but were released later. While some, who were tagged looters were prosecuted and remanded in Ilesha correctional facility.
The second wave started by a man popularly known as Captain did not see the light of the day as it was said to be a selfish movement. The panel set up by Government is still on and hopes are high on what becomes the outcome of the inquiry.
10. Attack on Oyetola
This was perhaps, the biggest event that shook the state in 2020. Governor Gboyega Oyetola having arrived at the state from an official trip around 11am, joined the protesters at Alekuwodo area and was walking with them for several minutes. On getting to Olaiya junction, he attempted to address them as demanded by they protesters and seen in other States. While talking to the protesters, who have been earlier attacked by political thugs in the morning before they regrouped, Oyetola was attacked. Several vehicles in his Entourage were damaged with many including Journalist, sustaining injuries.
Moment after the attack, rumour was rife in the social media that two persons were killed by security details of Mr Governor. This was however, debunked by some of the leaders of the protest who spoke with InsightMedia.
In turn, Oyetola in his statewide broadcast the following day, said his attackers were not protesters but political thugs. While the former Chairman of the PDP, Sunday Bisi said those who attacked Oyetola are members of Oyetola’s party (APC) and that he (Oyetola) knows them, people of the state are still waiting for arrest of anyone in connection with the attack.
11. Looting spree
Few days after Oyetola’s attack, the protest continued. This time, hoodlums have hijacked it to perpetrate evil. After a violence that broke out during the day, hoodlums, armed with weapons, invaded Osun mall later in the day, precisely around 1900hrs and looted shops. Properties worth millions of naira were lost that night.
The second, COVID-19 palliative was discovered at the Cocoa house in Ede. This time, it was a looting competition among residents of towns near Ede. The looting took over 12 hours as it was done till 11pm in the night. Several questions were asked as why the government kept the items inside the warehouse. As if the looting of palliatives was not enough, the next 72 hours witnessed ugly situations in the state. Private businesses and residences, public properties and offices were vandalized and looted by hoodlums who were moving from one property to another.
12. The second anniversary of Oyetola
While Oyetola was preparing for second anniversary in office, the camp of Aregbesola led by Senator Ajibola Basiru was preparing for 10th anniversary of Progressive Government. Basiru, being the Chairman of APC caucus in the National Assembly planned the event to hold at Adebimpe event center same day and time with Oyetola’s anniversary. As the polity was getting heated, the NASS caucus backed out from Basiru’s plan, leaving him with no option than to announce postponement. This was done after intervention of Chief Bisi Akande.
