President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola held three private meetings, according to an interview with Punch published on Sunday. Prof Sola Adeyeye, the Director of Electioneering Planning for the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council in the South-West, disclosed the encounters. The revelation comes despite the publicised political rift between the two leaders. Adeyeye stated that he did not oppose Tinubu as a candidate, noting, "I did not oppose Tinubu as a candidate." He clarified that his earlier objections were directed at Tinubu’s aspirant status within the party primary, where he had endorsed Yemi Osinbajo.
Adeyeye explained that his support for Tinubu solidified once the latter won the party’s nomination. He cited Tinubu’s efforts to restore federalism as a key reason for his admiration. The APC chieftain argued that the President has taken steps to increase the revenue share for states and initiated the process of granting states police authority. He contrasted Nigeria’s highly centralised security apparatus with other federal systems, noting that even unitary states like the UK maintain territorial police. Adeyeye suggested that restoring state police powers would address local policing inefficiencies caused by language barriers between officers and communities.
The interview also touched on the economic challenges facing Nigeria. Adeyeye acknowledged complaints about hunger, insecurity, and inflation but argued that the country has been "abjectly poor" since 1999. He pointed out that the federal government allocates less than one dollar per Nigerian per day, based on population figures. He praised Tinubu for increasing the external reserve to $57 billion, though he described this figure as "pathetic" compared to the endowment of Harvard University. He urged Nigerians to face the reality of the country’s financial constraints rather than glorifying the past.
Adeyeye defended Tinubu’s adoption of a rainbow coalition, arguing that governing requires different strategies than winning elections. He referenced historical precedents, such as the coalition formed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s party in 1964, to justify alliances with ideologically diverse groups. He maintained that preventing a greater evil often necessitates such political pragmatism. The APC chieftain concluded that growth is a painful process and that leaders must focus on sustainable economic management rather than ideological purity. He emphasized the importance of data and figures in running the republic, a trait he associated with Awolowo.