Crisis Of Confidence Rocks Governor Oyetola’s Cabinet Over Osun Poll 2022

By Adabanija Kamorudeen

Members in the cabinet of Gboyega Oyetola, the Osun state governor, are facing tough questions on their loyalties ahead of a crucial July 16 governorship election in the state.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the Governor is pushing to dissolve his cabinet because of widespread infiltration of his government by agents of the former governor.

Oyetola it was learnt believes his actions are being recorded and disseminated to his political enemies.

Mr. Oyetola, it was learnt, has beamed a searchlight on those serving in his administration to determine who are truly with him in his bid to get re-election. Though, Mr. Oyetola was discreet about his concern, the sense of suspicion that lurks around him lately is getting so loud to ignore by members of the cabinet.

A source who works in the governor’s office confided to Apex News Exclusive that Mr. Oyetola is begining to have the feeling of divided loyalty in his administration after some deliberations held behind closed doors easily make their way to those believed not to be favourable to the governor’s re-election.

On top of the list is Mr. Oyetola’s predecessor and former boss, Rauf Aregbesola. Messrs Oyetola and Aregbesola have been at loggerheads over irreconcilable differences, prompting the division of the All Progressives Congress (APC) along two distinct factions – Ileri-Oluwa and TOP.

“He (Oyetola) believes there are certain members in his cabinet with divided loyalties because he can not comprehend how many of the things he shares with them in private get to the knowledge of those in the opposing camp,” the source who does not want his name in print noted. “This is why he has become more careful these days but beyond that, conducting a discreet scrutiny of those in his administration to know exactly who is with him,” he stressed.

At a recent meeting with Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor, Mr. Oyetola, according to someone in the know, expressed his apprehension at the likelihood of some people in his government not truly committed to his return to office.

He was said to have pointed out to Mr. Tinubu, who happens to be his relation, that he fears Mr. Aregbesola still has the loyalty of some of his cabinet members, though, they pretend to be with him.

“It was really a moment of frankness, and Mr. Governor(Oyetola) made his fears known to Asiwaju (Tinubu) about the likelihood of sabotage from within giving that he suspects some people in his government are not with him 100%,” the source noted.

The source added that when Mr. Tinubu probed to know what informed his suspicion, Mr. Oyetola noted the several breaches of information shared within closed walls, especially as it relates to strategy to beat those in TOP on the legal question that arises after the primary.

It will be recalled that Mr. Oyetola was declared the winner of the APC primary that was held in February, however, his challenger at the party’s internal poll, Moshood Adeoti, filed a legal challenge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, to quash his (Oyetola’s) nomination. Court pronouncement is still being awaited by either side.

Mr. Oyetola’s fear resonated well with Mr. Tinubu, the source noted, prompting the presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC to suggest to him (Oyetola) to build a fence around him to forestall any serious damage.

“Asiwaju (Tinubu) was really concerned upon listening to Mr. Governor (Oyetola) and advised him that in the meantime, he should be careful on what information he shares about his re-election bid, while he should put in place a mechanism to know those who are truly with him,” the source averred.

“What I can tell you is that there is a crisis of confidence in this government at the moment, and it is not certain yet if Mr. Governor [Oyetola] can get the answer he wants because election is just a few weeks away,” he added.