A former federal lawmaker and prominent figure in Osun State, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, has spoken about his repeated but unsuccessful attempts to reconcile President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, whose once-strong friendship has deteriorated over time.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Adeyeye highlighted the deep bond that once existed between the two political figures. He recalled that Tinubu had an extraordinary level of trust in Aregbesola, even describing it in a striking manner during a meeting.
“I was at a meeting where Tinubu said, ‘If you see me sleeping and you see Rauf coming with a dagger or a knife, don’t wake me up; Rauf will never injure me.’ That was the depth of trust Tinubu had in Aregbesola,” Adeyeye shared.
According to Adeyeye, Aregbesola’s respect for Tinubu was equally profound, with the former governor placing Tinubu just below God in his hierarchy of loyalty. “For Rauf, the only entity in the universe bigger than Tinubu was God,” he added.
However, despite their unbreakable bond, Adeyeye believes that a perceived betrayal may have led to the falling out. He speculated that Aregbesola might have felt that Tinubu sided with his brother against him, contributing to the rift.
“I have the feeling that what happened between them was Rauf thinking that Tinubu sided with his own brother against him,” Adeyeye remarked.
Expressing his deep disappointment over the situation, Adeyeye spoke of his many efforts to mediate between the two, all of which proved unsuccessful. “I tried my best to settle them. I tried my very best. Not once, not twice, but several times,” he said.
Reflecting on his neutrality in the situation, Adeyeye emphasized his long-standing commitment to peace and expressed that he sought nothing from either party. “Only God elevates,” he said.
Despite acknowledging the challenges of reconciling the two, Adeyeye left the door open for future resolution. “If the two of them want to settle, it’s not impossible,” he concluded, suggesting that reconciliation, while difficult, is still within reach.
