By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor and Charles Kumolu

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the Southwest converged in the Lagos home of Aremo Segun Osoba to forge a much-needed reconciliation with their host. However, the result of their peace shooting exercise is apparently beyond simple political projections.

Speculations of an end to the simmering division in the camp of the progressive elements in the Southwest geopolitical zone had been running for some time.

The progressives in the geopolitical zone were at the forefront in the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC as the leading party in the region.

However, not long after the emergence of the APC, Aremo Segun Osoba, the veteran journalist and two-term governor of Ogun State who was one of the leading founders of the APC had upon alleged acts of discrimination of his supporters in Ogun State led his supporters out of the APC.

The former governor eventually led his supporters into the Social Democratic Party, SDP just before the 2015 general elections.

But it was obvious that the exit apparently did not sit well with many political stakeholders. The absence of Aremo was not just an ideological scar for the party, but also a major dent on the general body of the progressives across the land.

It was even an embarrassment for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who remarkably, is almost near neighbour to Osoba in the Bourdillion, Ikoyi area of Lagos.

Remarkably, many leaders from the geopolitical zone and especially, two leading traditional rulers from Ogun State, took it upon themselves to heal the wound.

The Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the Alake of Egbaland, Dr. Adedotun Gbadebo were particularly troubled by the issue.

The Awujale particularly had won respect among progressives for his support for their causes. The Awujale, it is remembered, was one traditional ruler who disregarded the threats of the Sanni Abacha dictatorship to host meetings of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO in his palace.

Awujale also was one of the few traditional rulers who disregarded the charms of the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, especially in the days leading to the presidential election when he told his subjects to vote according to their conscience when he was approached for support by the PDP.

Besides, it is alleged by those close to him that he did not hide his personal friendship with General Muhammadu Buhari even with Buhari as an opposition leader.

So given what was believed to be the gap in the ranks of the progressives, the Awujale, and the Alake reportedly took it upon themselves to persuade Osoba to return to the field of the progressives in the APC.

The two traditional rulers Saturday Vanguard learned jointly and separately met with Osoba to return to the camp of the progressives.

Besides the traditional rulers, Tinubu, Saturday Vanguard learned also intervened before the Southwest governors in the APC also entered the quest for peace.

Their effort was understandable given how such little quarrels had in the past led to bigger crises in the Southwest. In their trouble shooting sessions, the trouble shooters recalled how the problem within the defunct Action Group in the sixties spread to a national crisis.

So while the traditional rulers helped in doing the background work, it was left to the politicians to formally cement the peace.

Given the nature of politicians, it was not surprising that even the APC delegations came visiting that word on the issue was already spreading wide and near.

At the burial of the mother of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, in Agbor, Delta State where Osoba made a visible presence, the word on the possible reconciliation was abuzz as some APC governors from outside the Southwest openly hugged Osoba to show their appreciation.

A number of reporters who got a leak on it even came as early as Saturday, 24 hours before the Sunday scheduled visit.

The rapprochement eventually took place that Sunday with all but two APC governors from the Southwest in attendance.

The governors were led by the political leaders of the region who included Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Otunba Niyi Adebayo among others.

The only governors absent were Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and the host governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Governor Ambode was, however, represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule.

The absence of Amosun some said was an issue given the history of discord between Osoba and Amosun, but those involved in leading the peace it was gathered resolved not to make it an issue, preferring to allow things shape up naturally.

Also present were the former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, who also served as interim national chairman of the party at inception, former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Senator Gbenga Obadara among others. Speaking on behalf of the attendees shortly before the nearly four-hour parley ended, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said, the differences that had existed among the South West leaders of the party had been resolved.

To that effect, he said the leaders were now more progressively united to achieve substantive developmental goals for the zone and the nation.

”The leadership of progressive leadership in western Nigeria, leadership of progressive leadership in the western part of the country met today at the residence of Aremo Osoba and have resolved all the differences within the leadership completely,” he noted.

Continuing, he said: “As such we are happy to tell the world that the leadership of progressive politics is united. And we are ready to jointly prosecute the agenda for growth, purposeful leadership, development, good governance for the western part of Nigeria and we are committed to doing that for the entire nation.

”We have resolved to support the effort at the national level to revive the economy and put the people of Nigeria in a better stead than we met it when our party came to power. The Aremo himself is back in the progressive leadership of Yoruba race. I have told you that the progressive leadership of Yoruba race is now ready and charged to reposition our land and integrate with others nationwide in its stead.”

The continuous usage of the phrase ”Progressive leadership,” elicited questions on clarification.
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Accordingly, the governor said: ”Progressive leadership is on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC. All governors of the APC in the Western part of Nigeria are here. With the leadership united, whoever subscribes to the leadership of the leaders must be part of this.”

On his part, Tinubu while speaking on the sidelines of the meeting noted that party leaders of the South West extraction resolved to be more progressive in pushing forward with a common vision.

His words: ”What is very crucial is forging one front and for us to remain progressive in our party. I am an unapologetic progressive, and I will remain progressive. And that is the only philosophy and principle I believe. Wherever the Progressives must unite with their vision, I am for it. No body is left out; it is all progressives, and no one is left out. The governor of Ogun State is with us. Governor of Ogun State was elected on the platform of the APC, and he is for the APC.”