The first interim National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has assured Nigerians that Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola and ex-Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola will soon end their differences and work together.
Akande, who turns 85 years today, recalled that he risked his life to end the bickering between the two political gladiators during the COVID-19 in 2020.
According to him, the reconciliatory meeting, which was witnessed by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yielded no results.
Akande gave the assurance while featuring on a Yoruba political programme, Oro Oselu, on a private radio station, Rave FM, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The former Osun governor said the dispute between the duo would not last.
“Both Oyetola and Aregbesola are my children. They will be calm and patient. They will be happy like me. No single person can build or destroy the politics of Osun State.
“But I am sure that character determines friendship. I am sure that the animosity between them will grow weak. The one who is aggrieved will be appeased. In no distance time, they will work together.
“In 2020, they brought the fight before me and I tried my best. When it went bad, I risked my life to reconcile them. I got to know about their fight during COVID-19.
“I was surprised. I called them for a meeting and they ended the fighting in my presence but still continued with it after they left. I discovered that their followers were angry. I started calling them federal constituencies by constituencies to meet with stakeholders. I set up committees. This was during COVID-19.
“I am old. If I contract the virus, the chances of me surviving were slim, but for these people have high chances of surviving it. I risked my life to reconcile them…”