In Nigeria’s ever-dynamic political terrain, few stories are as baffling as that of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola—the man who once basked in the political light of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only to now walk in the shadows of expired political forces that once opposed their shared ideals.
Let the truth be told: Aregbesola is a political creation of Bola Tinubu. His rise from humble beginnings in a one-room apartment in Akowonjo Dopemu to national relevance was not self-made.
Obviously, It was Tinubu who lifted him, mentored him, and positioned him on the political ladder in Nigeria.
When Tinubu was Governor of Lagos State, Aregbesola served as Commissioner for Works for eight uninterrupted years—a role that gave him public visibility and political experience. And when it was time to expand the progressive agenda beyond Lagos, it was Tinubu who singlehandedly imposed Aregbesola as Governor in Osun State, despite the fact that Aregbesola had no deep political roots or strong community bonds in Osun, having been born in Ikare, Ondo State, and schooled at Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi.
Before 2007, Aregbesola was a stranger to Osun politics. But because of Tinubu’s goodwill and political capital, he was not only accepted—he was elected, and even re-elected. That is the undeniable truth.
But alas, power can intoxicate, and gratitude is often a rare virtue in politics. Today, Aregbesola has not only distanced himself from his political benefactor but has also aligned with the same expired politicians who fought against their common vision. It is a tragic irony.
Rather than champion unity in the Southwest, Aregbesola now serves as a willing tool in the hands of those whose only agenda is to diminish the legacy of Tinubu. One begins to wonder: What influence does Aregbesola really have in the Southwest without Tinubu’s platform?
Can Aregbesola successfully lead a campaign in Lagos today? Can he walk freely in Alimosho, once considered his stronghold?
Obviously, The honest answer is no. His political miscalculations and public outbursts have alienated many of his former loyalists.
In fact, some of his followers now cover their faces in shame, unwilling to be associated with a man who betrayed the very foundation that raised him.
Let us be clear: political relevance is not permanent. It is earned and sustained by loyalty, consistency, and a clear understanding of history.
Sadly, Aregbesola appears to have lost his way, wandering into a political wilderness where his voice echoes only among disgruntled relics of a rejected past.
If he does not retrace his steps, the end of Aregbesola may be one marked by political irrelevance and isolation—a cautionary tale of what happens when ambition overrides loyalty.
History will always remember who built, who supported, and who destroyed.
God bless Nigeria.
