Oyetola vs Omisore: There is always a tomorrow..... By Ismail Omipidan

I have, for a long time, refrained from intervening in the ongoing roforofo fight between the camps of my former principal, Adegboyega Oyetola, and his now-estranged political ally, Senator Iyiola Omisore. However, after reading certain planted stories now being amplified by Omisore's supporters, I felt compelled to do this intervention. Both parties may not like some of the things I am about to say, but I owe the public the right to know. And if in the end, Omisore’s men choose to come at me from all cylinders, I will take it in good faith. After all, I have taken several bullets for Oyetola in the past, so this one won’t break me.

While the Aregbesola camp may argue that the APC did not need Omisore to win the 2018 governorship re-run election, the facts say otherwise. If what happened did not happen, the party leaders who championed the negotiations at the time would not have run to Omisore. This is despite the fact that some of the negotiators had funded and supported Moshood Adeoti in the ADP to create the very stalemate the APC faced. I will go into the details of all these later, but certainly not in this piece.

Anyway, apart from the ministerial position, every other item that was negotiated was implemented to the letter by Oyetola. He gave out commissionership and SA slots, and he consistently deferred to Omisore on several sensitive matters, often to the displeasure of some of his closest aides. It even got to a point where Aregbesola began referring to Omisore as Oyetola’s new leader.

If Oyetola cannot be credited for anything else, he should at least be acknowledged for saving Omisore from political oblivion. But for Oyetola’s efforts and insistence, there was no way Omisore would have emerged as the APC National Secretary at the time he did. And that single event revived and preserved Omisore’s political career. Till today, some APC elders in the South-West have not forgiven Oyetola for the role he played in Omisore's emergence.

I know some people may argue that Omisore could still have secured the position without Oyetola’s backing, given the support he enjoyed from the late Akeredolu, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and some of Buhari’s men. But the prestige and political weight of home support accorded him would certainly not be there without Oyetola. I was at the convention ground. I saw and knew all that transpired. I was always with Oyetola, in the days leading to that convention, going back and forth to Asiwaju,  our now President and Baba Akande's residences. In fact, there are days that we will go there more than thrice in one day, and remain sometimes till 2 am. 

For me, I believe we did not see much of Omisore’s influence in the 2022 governorship election results. Many still insist that if Oyetola had not ceded the entire Ile-Ife structure to him, the outcome of the election in that area would have been different. But all that is now history. The point I am making is simple: Oyetola deserves some respect from Omisore and his Rottweilers. Life is not static. As we say in Yoruba, rain dey beat person enter the same house twice o.

I also recall how, under Omisore’s stewardship as National Secretary, the Bayelsa governorship ticket was handed to someone else against the wise counsel of senior party elders. Oyetola was severely tongue-lashed afterward, with some saying, “Ṣé bi eyin le mu wa?” (After all, you are the ones who brought him- Omisore.)

For Oyetola, I strongly advise that he continues to demonstrate maturity in the face of these blackmails, provocations, and intimidations. This too shall pass. Although, I also believe that if Oyetola had confronted Omisore earlier and advised him against putting his hat in the ring in the first place, perhaps what we are witnessing today might have been avoided. But could he really have stopped him from pursuing his ambition? 

I leave Omisore, Oyetola and their supporters with this saying of the Holy Prophet Mohammad SAW: "Know that if the whole world were to gather together in order to benefit you with anything, they would not be able to benefit you except with what Allah has already prescribed for you. And if the whole world were to gather together in order to harm you with anything, they could not harm you except with what Allah has already prescribed for you". 

To Omisore and his supporters, trust in Allah. Know that you will only get to Abere, which you so much desire from all you have been doing and saying, only if Allah has destined it for you. It will reach you regardless of what Oyetola does or does not do, contrary to the narrative you push out. But if it has not been destined for you, no amount of effort will take you there. You will try, but you will never attain it. So, tread softly. Tomorrow is pregnant.