I have encountered more than one Aregbesola in my life. That’s why I seem to carry his matter on my head more than his victim does.
Look, Osinbajo’s was child’s play.
Fayemi’s was child’s play.
Those are politics. Politicians shop for personal interests. They make little money, start listening to their own motley crowds of supporters who tell them to get out from under their benefactors and godfathers.
They get out.
They succeed.
Or not succeed.
Now they know their exact weight.
That’s politics.
But Aregbe’s was different. He wasn’t just Tinubu’s political godson. He was like family – more than family in fact.
What used to sound like rumor and exaggeration have now become public, uncontroverted facts:
That Aregbe was a financially, politically, socially non-entity – an errand boy refrigerator technician when Senator Bola Tinubu took interest in him and brought him under his umbrella.
I wrote the immediate past paragraph with all humility and complete surrender to my Maker who determines who to elevate and when. It was Eledumare who decided why and when He would elevate Aregbe. But He used Tinubu.
Tinubu not only brought Aregbe into the inner sanctum of his political machinery, he brought him into the inner sanctum of his home – his bedroom!
It used to be rumor but it is now confirmed that Tinubu trusted Aregbe so much that Aregbe entered his bedroom at will – even if Mrs. Remi Tinubu was there!
All (I repeat – ALL) other political associates of Tinubu who wanted to get something from Tinubu and needed an intercessor went to Aregbe. If Aregbe presented their case, Tinubu acceded.
So, it was easy for Tinubu to make Aregbe – an Osun State indigene – commissioner for eight years.
Eight years!
He led the powerful ministry of works and infrastructure.
In Lagos State!
When he asked Tinubu to help him become governor of Osun, Tinubu deployed all the political machinery at his disposal.
A man who did not have a base – a house of his own – in Osun; not even in Ilesa, wanting to be governor. Yet, Tinubu sent everything, including money.
The man through whom Tinubu was funding Aregbe’s guber ambition was his cousin, Gboyega Oyetola, a better grounded Osun indigene with a palatial residence in Iragbiji and another in Osogbo. Aregbe literally went to Oyetola to collect money every time he needed money from Tinubu to prosecute his campaign.
Tinubu successfully got Aregbe elected and asked that Oyetola be made Chief of Staff so that after Aregbe completed his eight years in office, Oyetola would take over as governor – much like Tinubu himself did in Lagos, hanfing over to Fashola who had served as his Chief of Staff.
Aregbe agreed!
I used to think it was rumor; that it was a surprise that Tinubu sprung on him when his second term was almost over.
No! No! No!
It was a clearly-stated agreement to which Aregbe agreed!
But no sooner had he won his second term than Aregbe cut ties with Oyetola and excommunicated him in Osogbo.
All intercession by Tinubu fell on Aregbe’s deaf ears. Tinubu could not believe it.
Rauf?
Rauf?
Rauf?
I will tell Rauf to give me something and he will refuse?
Aregbe refused o!
He had been listening to people telling him to challenge Tinubu’s authority.
Why should Tinubu be godfather in Lagos and then want to be godfather in Osun?
If Aregbe had kept the disagreement stealthy, it might not have been so bad. But he hired talking drummers who drummed and sang derisive and insulting lyrics against Tinubu – in public!
Everywhere that Aregbe went, in and out of Osun State – even as recent as last month in Ekiti at an event I attended – musicians singing Aregbe’s praise could not get money unless they disparaged Tinubu while praising Aregbe, and Aregbe basked in the empty euphoria of the moments.
How on earth does he sleep with such a behavior!
Strictly on a personal note, I can understand Osinbajo. I can understand Fayemi. I can understand Obanikoro. I can understand Pedro.
Those are forgivable political differences.
But Aregbe’s?
Lailai!
The other plausible dimension I see with him is afise or asasi or eedi or all of the above.
It’s so unnatural, inhuman, makes absolutely no rational sense for him to betray his benefactor and do it so publicly.
You need to see him when he is intoxicatingly and deliriously mocking Tinubu in public – worse than if Tinubu had snatched his wife.
And to watch him seated amongst collaborators – those colluding to torpedo Tinubu’s administration – chanting anti-Tinubu songs, his trademark, just reminds me of some of the people I have encountered in my short years on earth.
There are people to whom you gave the shirt off your back when they were cold, and yet they did not wish you well. They are not only jealous of your successes; they ACTIVELY plan your downfall.
Ingrates.
Oore ti a ba se fun obo, to ba pe, a fa’ni laso ya.
May Eledumare expose all Aregbes in our lives. Amen.
May He keep them perpetually behind and beneath us. Amen.
Ko je bo se je.
Doxology.
PS: This is my first post on Aregbe. I am writing at a party. I will definitely devote more time to him in the coming days.