There are moments in Nigeria’s political history that shock even the most cynical observers. The recent pronouncement by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola — former Governor of Osun State, ex-Minister of Interior, and now self-styled revolutionary — is one such moment.
Addressing stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Akure, Aregbesola boldly declared his party’s intent to build a coalition aimed at defeating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
To the casual observer, this might pass as an ordinary opposition rhetoric. But to those who know the backstory — the real political and personal history between Tinubu and Aregbesola — it is nothing short of a betrayal of monumental proportions.
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Let’s put things in perspective. Rauf Aregbesola was not a political force before Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It was Tinubu who discovered him, appointed him as Commissioner for Works in Lagos, and made him a central figure in the Lagos developmental blueprint.
When Aregbesola nursed gubernatorial ambition in Osun, it was Tinubu who backed him with everything — from political intelligence to legal firepower. The battle for Osun State’s liberation was long, tough, and costly. Yet Tinubu stood by him till the dream became reality.
And it did not end there. Even as governor, Aregbesola enjoyed more latitude than most of Tinubu’s mentees. His government in Osun was financed and stabilized, often behind the scenes, by the same Tinubu he now seeks to remove from office. Aregbesola was not only supported but shielded — often at the expense of Tinubu’s own political standing with other loyalists.
But here we are in 2025, with Aregbesola now leading a so-called “progressive” coalition against his own political father. It is not just betrayal — it is a calculated act of treachery built on a foundation of envy, resentment, and a deluded sense of self-importance.
If Aregbesola feels emboldened today, it is not because he has built anything substantial. It is because he is standing on the shoulders of a giant and mistaking that height for his own strength. And like all who forget their roots, he is bound to fall — hard.
The people of Nigeria are not fools. They can see through the theatrics. The ADC may issue statements, call press conferences, and make declarations — but the truth is that they lack the structure, the message, the capacity, and the national goodwill that President Tinubu enjoys.
The 2027 election will not be about noise. It will be about leadership, performance, and loyalty. On all three fronts, Tinubu has proven himself. And no amount of betrayal, even from his closest allies-turned-foes, can erase that.
History has a long memory, and it is already writing Aregbesola’s chapter. Unfortunately for him, it won’t be a flattering one.
By Kabir Ali Danbaba
Chairman, Yari Renaissance Movement for Tinubu 2027.
