By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTa—Former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital disclosed that the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland Oba Dr. Adedotun Gbadebo and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Sikiru Adetona facilitated his return to the All Progressives Congress.

Olusegun Osoba

Osoba who broke his silence over the meeting held in his Ikoyi, Lagos residence with the leaders and some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress last Sunday, expressed regret that the meeting had been misconstrued by some members of the  public.

Osoba who returned to the Ogun State capital yesterday expressed regret that the meeting had been  misunderstood by some.

The former governor had announced his return to APC on Sunday when some national leaders and some governors visited him in his house.

Those in attendance at last Sunday’s meeting were the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule and former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

Others included former interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; APC National Vice Chairman, South West, Chief Pius Akinyelure and Senator Gbenga Obadara and ex – Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun, his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and APC leaders in Osoba’s home state of Ogun did not attend the meeting

The former governor who spoke yesterday during the public presentation and launch of a book entitled, “Alake of Egbaland: The Succession Dynamics,” written by Chief Alani Bankole, the father of the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole however said it was not true that the purpose of last Sunday’s meeting in his residence in Lagos was just to host the South West leaders of the APC.

He stressed that he neither convened nor hosted such meeting of the party leaders in his house as being bandied around.

The former governor however acknowledged the role played by two prominent traditional rulers in the state towards his return to the ruling APC.

He said that the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo and the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in particular, as well as other prominent Yoruba Obas had continued to pressurise him to go back to the party.

The ex – governor added that he would however not want to turn the book launch to a political event, stressing that the issue was better left for a later date.

“There are other things that I will say about Alake because of what happened on Sunday when the entire APC came to me, leading to some people making mistake that I hosted South West meeting, but I will not say it here today.

‘’The role of Alake and Awujale will be stated  but this is not the occasion to say it because this is not a political gathering.

‘’So, I want to thank Kabiyesi for what happened on Sunday; he has always been with me and God will always be with you, Kabiyesi.  By the grace of God, Egbaland will continue to flourish,” he said.

Osoba in a brief encounter with newsmen  after the book launch where he donated half a million Naira, said he had only taken sometime off from the party and has now returned to its fold.

“I’m a founding father of APC if I take a leave of absence from my own house, would I not return to my father’s house? I’m back to my father’s house,” he said.

The former governor described Bankole, the writer of the book launched yesterday,  as a political juggernaut with whom he shared a lot  in-spite of the differences in their political leanings.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Olatunde Abudu, described the five-chapter 127-page book as: ‘’A customary masterpiece on the making of Alake of Egbaland.”

Abudu, a foremost industrialist and educationist added that the book had given insight into the selection and final ascension of Oba Gbadebo  to the throne of the Alake.

Professor Olukayode Oyesiku, who reviewed the book, noted that it was devoid of technical jargon  and that it showed in-depth understanding and analysis of the issues surrounding royal succession in Egbaland.

Oyesiku, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Tai Solarin University of Education, in Ijebu-Ode also  described the author as an embodiment of knowledge, a scholar and a custodian of history.