By Ismail Omipidan
A man must stand for something. That was what former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, demonstrated on Friday, May 23, when he hosted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at his home in Ilesa. Atiku, once regarded as the architect of the progressives’ woes in the South-West in 2003, was received with warmth and open arms by Aregbesola in company of his political disciples.
Although, it is one thing to stand for something, and quite another for that cause to be considered noble or otherwise. It is undeniable that only cowards sit on the fence. In this regard, Aregbesola deserves commendation for showing courage and demonstrating that he is not a coward.
Whatever Aregbesola has done or he is doing must be situated within the context of antecedents of past leaders of the progressives in the South-West. He is certainly not the first to betray the ideals of what the progressives stand for, and he certainly will not be the last. After all, the late Chief Bola Ige, whose photograph now adorned the Omoluabi House in Osogbo accepted a ministerial appointment in the then President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to spite the progressives for refusing to offer him the presidential ticket of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999.
The only thing left for the former Interior Minister is to clearly state which political party he intends to join. This clarity is crucial for his followers, so they can decide whether to return to their political roots in the APC or follow him to his new home.
Last week, he announced his readiness to join a new political party, stating, “The party is ready. We are not just registering, we will be joining a new party from Abuja.” He also urged members of his movement to come en masse for the coronation of the new Owa of Ijesaland on Friday, as a show of their political relevance and numerical strength. “Our allies are coming. Let us show our political popularity in the state,” he said.
At the time, I thought he was referring to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, with whom he has forged political relationship for some time now. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was the last person I expected. But, this is politics—full of surprises.
While wishing Aregbesola, who clocks 68 tomorrow well with his new found political friend, Atiku, I wish to sound a note of caution: You are in already in the middle of the ocean. There is no going back. Pull it through for once and let’s see what the outcome will look like. After all, a brave man dies but once.
Omipidan, a journalist, author and Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Ile Olorisa Compound, Eyindi, Ila Orangun.
