Former Senator representing Osun Central, Olusola Adeyeye, has commented on the possibility of President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, resolving their longstanding political disagreements.
Adeyeye made his position known during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he was asked if there was a particular individual who could intervene and facilitate peace between Tinubu and Aregbesola.
The former senator said he was not aware of anyone who could successfully settle the differences between the two politicians.
According to him, the situation had reached a point where reconciliation would depend largely on the willingness of both parties to forgive one another.
“I don’t know; only God knows. When things get to be like this, only the two of them can forgive each other,” he stated.
Adeyeye, who currently serves as the South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, said he would be pleased to see Tinubu and Aregbesola reunite politically.
He explained that resolving the dispute would serve the interests of the APC, especially with the 2027 presidential election approaching.
“My wish would be for my party and for the president, because I want the president to win, and if he must, we must bring everybody together,” Adeyeye said.
Tinubu and Aregbesola were previously close political associates and played significant roles within the political formation that later became the APC.
Aregbesola governed Osun State between 2010 and 2018 before being appointed Minister of Interior during Tinubu’s administration.
Their once-close political relationship later deteriorated following disagreements between the two men.
Aregbesola subsequently joined the African Democratic Congress and currently serves as its national secretary. His involvement with the opposition has also placed him on a different political platform from Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
Adeyeye acknowledged that Aregbesola’s present position within the ADC could make any immediate return to the APC challenging.
He noted that leaving the opposition party could raise concerns among supporters and associates who moved with Aregbesola.
“It won’t look good to his admirers, especially those who follow him to that party,” he said.
The former lawmaker also assessed Aregbesola’s political influence in Osun State following the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The ADC contested the election with former Osun House of Assembly Speaker, Najeem Salaam, while the APC presented Bola Oyebamiji as its candidate.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, won the election with 511,067 votes. Oyebamiji came second with 444,815 votes, while Salaam secured 17,180 votes.
Adeyeye questioned the electoral performance of the ADC in areas traditionally associated with Aregbesola, particularly Ilesa and Osun Central.
He, however, recognised that Aregbesola still commands considerable personal support among some residents of the state.
Adeyeye distinguished between Aregbesola contesting an election himself and backing another candidate.
“If Aregbesola is the candidate, it’s a different matter,” he said.
The former senator described Aregbesola as a highly regarded politician, maintaining that defeating him could be difficult if he personally sought an elective position in Osun.
“The truth is he’s still a magnificent person, much loved. If he were a candidate, believe you me, anybody would be hard-pressed to beat him in Osun,” he added.
Adeyeye, however, argued that the former governor’s personal popularity should not automatically be interpreted as support for whichever politician or party he chooses to endorse.
“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.
