Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuff, expressed skepticism about the potential for former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to exert significant influence on the state’s political landscape upon his return.
Yusuff, affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party, responded to Aregbesola’s statement made during a political gathering organized by the Omoluabi Caucus in Ilesa last Saturday. Aregbesola hinted at revealing his future plans concerning Osun politics before the conclusion of 2024.
While discussing Aregbesola’s assertion on the ‘Oro Oselu’ program broadcasted on Rave FM, a private radio station in Osogbo, Yusuff suggested that the former governor might struggle to reassert his previous political dominance.
Yusuff, a former House of Representatives member representing Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency, acknowledged Aregbesola’s initial rise to governorship through collective leadership. However, he conveyed doubts about Aregbesola’s current ability to steer the political course in the state.
Despite these reservations, Yusuff affirmed his continued admiration for Aregbesola, acknowledging their past camaraderie and shared prominence during the same era.
Speaking in Yoruba language in a two minutes 38 seconds video of the interview which went viral on the social media, on Tuesday, Yusuff further said, “Aregbesola did his best in the struggle that secured power to govern the state for the progressives in quote.
“If he is facing challenges now, I can’t be happy about it. But the only thing I know is that he is only struggling to regain that form. It may be out of his reach. Collective leadership made him governor. Just as I was unable to get my desired position and I am not sad about it, it will not be easy for him to return to Osun and lead any political system again.
“It is the time to say the truth. He (Aregbesola) is someone that I love so much. I don’t know if he loves me same way. That he opposed my ambition to be governor of Osun and Speaker of House of Representatives are past issues.
“But, him saying he would declare his next political move is a lie. Dynamics are no longer the same. Things have changed. But I won’t say Aregbesola will no longer be relevant politically because I am not God.”
When contacted for reaction, Sola Fasure, who is the Media Adviser to Aregbesola, said, “In the last two years, he (Lasun Yusuff) has been in APC, PDP and Labour Party. He sought to contest the last governorship election in the state on the platform of the three parties but finally got the Labour Party’s ticket.
“He was in, out, in and out again of the defunct The Osun Progressives, praising and denouncing the group, blowing hot or cold, as he deemed fit. Whatever he says therefore is a function of his pursuit at the moment.
“If you recollect, he had viciously attacked Aregbesola at one time and at another praised him to high heaven. You should therefore situate his statement in light of what he had said about Aregbesola in the past.”
