Osoba reconciles with APC

•Tinubu says ‘West progressives intact’
In what must be a reconciliation meeting, top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday converged at the residence of former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who left the party, which he helped to found in controversial circumstances in 2014 to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Significantly, all South West leaders of the party including former governor of Lagos, Bola Tinubu, governors, Rauf Aregbesola, Abiola Ajimobi, Lagos Deputy governor, Mrs. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Ekiti Niyi Adebayo and others were present except Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

Osoba, a former chairman, APC’s Constitution Drafting Committee left the party due to differences between himself and Governor Amosun.

Addressing journalists after a closed- door meeting, Aregbesola said the discussions had brought Osoba back to progressive fold in western Nigeria.

He said: “It is my pleasure to disclose that the leadership of the progressive politics in the western part of Nigeria met today at the residence of Akinrogun Aremo, and resolved all the differences completely with the leadership.

“We are happy to inform the world that the leadership of progressive politics are united and ready to jointly prosecute the agenda for purposeful leadership in western part of Nigeria as we plan to do at the national level; to revive the economy.
“I believe with good governance and purposeful leadership, West Africa and the black race will better for it.”

He continued: “A time was when Aremo switched to another party. He was with the SDP but with what we have done, he is back in the progressive leadership of Yoruba race.”

Tinubu on his part said: “You see me here, what do you expect? My happiness is personal to me. What is crucial is forging on . I’m an unapologetic progressive and I will remain a progressive.”

When also asked if the absence of Amosun was a sign that he was excluded from the reconciliation meeting, Tinubu said: “Nobody is left out. No one. No matter your insinuation. Amosun is with us. We can excuse people. He was elected on the APC platform. He is for the APC.

“This is not a leaderless revolution. It is clear we are one, including the governor of Ogun State. Who told you we are fighting? That is you insinuation.”

“We want to strengthen Nigeria. We want to stay focused in redefining Nigeria. We want to reverse the decay of the past years. For 16 years, PDP destroyed this country. We can’t be emotional and in self-denial about it.”

The former governor of Lagos also bemoaned that the past PDP administration in Nigeria did not prioritise road and rail constructions, electricity and other crucial sectors, blaming it to why Nigeria is where it is today.

He also disagreed that Nigerians are disenchanted with the APC leadership.He rather said what Nigerians want is to understand the direction of government.

He also denied putting Akande forward for the BoT chairmanship of the APC.However when asked about the reconciliation, Osoba did not respond but sang a popular song by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo: “The fight is over and the war is ended, the Lord has fought and won the war, Halleluyah.”