Yayi: How Amosun Escaped Tinubu’s Wrath

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When the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presented Governor Ibikunle Amosun as their governorship candidate in 2011, little did they know that the camp would witness some storms.

Amosun had connived with the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba to unseat Governor Gbenga Daniel. As destiny will have it, their plan worked out.

But just after the elections, things fell apart between Osoba and Amosun. All efforts to resolve their differences proved abortive. Majority of Osoba’s loyalists were said not to be benefiting enough from Amosun’s government.

In the build up to the 2015 general elections, Osoba, alongside his faithful, was forced to seek their political fortune in another party. At that time, the ACN had merged with other political party to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The intervention of former Lagos State governor and National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was able to bring the warring factions together. Osoba settled scores with Amosun and returned to the APC few days to the party’s National Congress.

With this, many would have expected that the coast should be clear enough for APC to record success in 2019, especially in Ogun State.

However, the intention of the member representing Lagos West Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, a.k.a Yayi, to succeed Amosun has further made things look difficult for the sitting governor to present the candidate of his choice.

It was obvious that Amosun didn’t find it funny. At several fora where necessary, he was always expressing his displeasure at Yayi’s stunt.

But all of a sudden, reports filtered in that Yayi has jettisoned his ambition and returned to seek a reelection to the National Assembly. What many don’t know, however, is what prompted Yayi’s decision.

Findings, however, showed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to appoint Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved members of the party paved way for party’s success in 2019.

Following this, Amosun was said to have requested from Buhari that Tinubu be stopped from meddling into the affairs of the party in Ogun, an appeal that was graciously approved by the President.

Going by this, Yayi was left with no option than to heed the call of his godfather to return to Lagos in continuation of his political sojourn.

“Yayi was told pointblank that he dare not decamp to another party. Tinubu specifically said should he do so, he has finished his political career.

“Like we all know, it is usually not advisable for a politician to go against his godfather in Nigeria. Those who tried it ended up in regret.

“As far as I know, that is why Yayi had to pack his bags and baggage and leave Ogun for Amosun”, a source said.