Former Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Ismail Omipidan, has revealed that he alerted President Bola Tinubu in 2018 of the alleged deceitful behavior of former Minister Rauf Aregbesola.
In an excerpt from his recently published book ‘Persona Non Grata’, which he put on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Omipidan revealed this finding.
Omipidan explained that the warning was made prior to his appointment in 2019 as CPS to Governor Oyetola. He recounted his involvement in the 2014 Osun State gubernatorial election, when he formed and funded a six-member media team to support Aregbesola’s re-election bid.
Despite his significant contributions to Aregbesola’s campaign, Omipidan revealed that after the election, when the team members inquired about a celebratory visit to Osun, he disclosed that he had no financial ties with the government, leaving many of them surprised.
Looking back on the 2018 gubernatorial election, Omipidan reflected on the challenges faced by his party, particularly Oyetola’s narrow victory.
He said, “In fact, I had predicted in one of my articles before the 2018 election that no clear winner would emerge from the first ballot. I went further to state emphatically that any of the two leading candidates that were interested in winning must negotiate with Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, to carry the day. That was exactly what eventually happened.”
Omipidan added that the 2018 election served as a referendum on Aregbesola’s political influence.
He described it as the “battle of his life” for Aregbesola, noting that his position as a key figure in the political landscape was under scrutiny.
After the election, Omipidan continued to advise Governor Oyetola, suggesting that he shed the arrogance of Aregbesola’s administration to succeed.
He also urged Tinubu to reassess Aregbesola’s role within the political family.
Omipidan’s concerns were rooted in his observations of Aregbesola’s actions during the 2017 and 2018 governorship elections in Ondo and Osun states, where he perceived Aregbesola’s indifference to the stakes of the elections.
He reflected on his earlier suggestion to Tinubu, saying, “I want to believe that I am vindicated by Aregbesola’s disposition towards President Tinubu’s presidential ambition four years after my suggestion.”
Omipidan also acknowledged the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, for his dedicated support during the 2018 election, contrasting it with Aregbesola’s seemingly lackluster effort. He concluded, “Aregbesola carried on in that election as if nothing was at stake.”
