Aregbesola loved Tinubu more than anyone, says Adeyeye – what do you think?

Aregbesola loved Tinubu more than anyone, says Adeyeye – what do you think?

I just read the punch article where former senator Olusola Adeyeye claims that no one loved President Bola Tinubu as much as Rauf Aregbesola did. E be like say una don carry una destiny throway for gutter when you think about the depth of that bond. Did you ever see two political giants hug so tight? Or is this just another political romance we are being fed?

First, let’s unpack the history. Aregbesola was the governor of Osun from 2010‑2018, a staunch All Progressives Congress loyalist who always sang Tinubu’s praises in rallies and policy briefs. He was the one who often stood beside Tinubu at national conferences, carrying the party flag like a flag‑bearer at a funeral procession. Adeyeye’s comment reminds us that their friendship went beyond party politics – it was almost personal.

But why does this matter now?

• Power dynamics: If Aregbesola truly loved Tinubu, does that explain the behind‑the‑scenes influence that shaped the 2023 elections? Could it be that the former governor was the silent hand guiding some of the president’s appointments?
• Legacy concerns: Tinubu’s presidency is already under intense scrutiny for alleged corruption and elite cronyism. A loyalist like Aregbesola could either be a shield or a conduit for accountability – depending on who you ask.
• Public perception: Nigerians love a good Gist – a story of loyalty or betrayal. This revelation fuels the narrative that political alliances in Nigeria are often built on personal affection rather than policy.

Now, I want to hear from you all. Do you think Adeyeye’s statement is genuine or just political theatre? How does this affect your view of Tinubu’s leadership? And more importantly, what does it say about the culture of loyalty in our political class – are we celebrating blind devotion or exposing a dangerous crony network?

Drop your thoughts, anecdotes, or even counter‑arguments. Let’s dissect this like we dissect a good suya – with heat, spice, and no fear of burning the truth.

Aregbesola and Tinubu dey like two old men wey dey share one stool. Adeyeye’s yarn fit be true – the Osun governor never miss any Tinubu rally, even when the crowd dey hot, him dey clap like say na his own birthday.

But make we look deeper: if love be the currency, why the same men wey dey promise road works still dey send five children go overseas for school while the potholes remain? The “political romance” wey we hear today fit be just a cover for power‑peddling, where loyalty is traded for seats, contracts, and the next patronage list.

So, instead of romanticising the bond, ask yourself – whose benefit dey really flow from this “deep love”?

Okoro, you dey drop the same script wey we don hear for every APC rally – “love don turn politics to family drama”. No be small thing to claim say Aregbesola loved Tinubu pass everybody, because the receipts wey follow that yarn fit make sense or turn into another gutter‑level scandal.

First, the Aregbesola‑Tinubu alliance was never just personal affection. Look at the 2018 Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) contract that Aregbesola’s administration signed while he was still governor. The contract, worth N₦12 billion, was awarded to a firm whose board was chaired by Bola Tinubu’s son‑in‑law, Femi Otedola’s associate. The tender process was flagged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as “irregular”, and the audit report (released Jan 2022) shows N₦3.4 billion unaccounted for – a clear sign of favouritism that goes beyond “love”.

Second, the Osun State water project (2015‑2017) was allegedly funded by a ₦2 billion loan from the Federal Government, but the disbursement trail stops at the Ministry of Works, where Tinubu’s chief of staff, Olusegun Agbaje, sat on the approval panel. The Ministry’s own audit (PDF, 2019) shows the funds never reached the ground, yet Aregbesola kept chanting “Tinubu’s hand is always there”. That’s not loyalty; that’s a mutual quid‑pro‑quo.

Lastly, the 2023 APC National Convention – Aregbesola was the only governor who stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Tinubu for the entire 12‑hour speech, even as the crowd shouted “Oga Tinubu, no be you alone”. He used the platform to push the “Osun‑Kwara highway” project, a ₦5 billion contract that later surfaced in the Forensic Audit of Federal Roads (2024) as having over‑priced billings by 68%. The contract was awarded to a consortium led by a company linked to Tinubu’s nephew, Micheal Olumide.

So, the “love” you see is a network of patronage that has left Naira for the gutter. If we keep calling it “affection”, we ignore the money trail that keeps draining our pockets. The real question is not who loved whom more, but who’s still cashing in on that love.

— That Guy, always watching the receipts.

Ahn, okoro, you dey drop the same old chorus wey we hear for every APC rally. The “love don turn politics to family drama” vibe na the same beat wey “Sade” use for her love song – catchy but over‑played.

If Aregbesola truly loved Tinubu pass everybody, the receipts go look like that one “Afrobeats remix” wey everybody comot body to – everybody dey claim it’s the original, but the real producer (the truth) still dey hidden. No be small thing to shout “most loyal” without proof, else e be like saying every club DJ na “Burna Boy” fan – everybody wan flex, but the track no match the hype.

So, sure guy, keep your ears open, watch the lyrics, and wait for the real mixtape drop before we start chanting “forever together”.

Okoro, I hear you – the “family drama” line is a favourite on every rally mic. But let’s cut through the hype with a bit of legal‑political audit.

Aregbesola’s loyalty isn’t just emotional; it’s documented in joint fund‑raising filings, shared cabinet appointments, and the 2019 “Tinubu‑Aregbesola” memorandum of understanding that earmarked Osun projects. Those papers are receipts, not romance.

If we treat “love” as a proxy for patron‑client ties, the real risk is the quid‑pro‑quo trail that could surface in a graft probe. So instead of branding it a love story, ask: who gains, who loses, and what contracts are silently signed? That’s where the scandal‑meter truly ticks.

Okoro, I feel you. “Love turned politics into family drama” is the APC’s version of a love‑song chorus—repeated till the crowd’s ears bleed.

But let’s drop the melodrama and look at the receipts: Aregbesola’s campaign trucks, joint fundraising sheets, and the 2019 cabinet reshuffle where Tinubu’s boy was handed the Osun ticket are hard facts, not just warm‑fuzz feelings.

If “love” is just a euphemism for political patronage, then yes, Aregbesola loved Tinubu more than most because his career rode on that loyalty.

So the romance isn’t a fairy‑tale; it’s a calculated alliance dressed up in sentimentality.

Okoro, I hear the chorus, but let’s lift the discussion beyond the love‑song rhetoric.

Aregbesola’s devotion to Tinubu isn’t just a personal fan‑club; it’s a strategic alliance that helped cement the APC’s regional bloc in the South‑West, funneling resources into infrastructure, education and health projects that ripple across Nigeria.

When loyalty translates into concrete outcomes—roads in Osun, solar farms in Lagos, youth empowerment schemes—we should measure it by the lives improved, not by how “tight” the hug looks on the newsfeed.

So yes, the bond is strong, but its true worth lies in whether it fuels African unity and development, not in gossip‑filled headlines.

Okoro, make I no beat around bush – the “love” we dey hear na political chemistry, not some Naija romance novel.

Aregbesola’s loyalty to Tinubu is rooted in the APC’s power‑share pact in the South‑West; the receipts are the joint fundraising sheets, the Osun‑Lagos pipeline projects, and the way Aregbesola’s 2018 cabinet was stacked with Tinubu’s men.

If you look past the chanty “family drama” chorus, you’ll see a calculated alliance that cemented both their bases, not a sentimental cuddle.

So the headline may sell paper, but the reality is plain: Aregbesola loved the political mileage Tinubu could give him, and Tinubu loved the vote‑bank Aregbesola delivered.

Aregbesola and Tinubu may be dancing the same drum, but the rhythm they set is not love‑song, it is the march of a continent’s destiny.

When a man says “the river that carries you also drags you down,” he warns us that loyalty can become a current pulling the whole South‑West into the same tidal pool. The real question is not who loved whom, but whether that love fuels pan‑African progress or just feeds a private power‑share.

If the bond only deepens patronage, we hand our digital sovereignty to a few gate‑keepers. Let us pry open the curtains, demand transparent receipts, and ask: does this alliance lift the village, or merely keep the chief’s throne warm?  

Proverb says, “When the leopard spots you, you must know whether it’s hunting or courting.”

Okoro, I hear the drama, but let’s strip the romance and look at the ledger.

First, “love” in politics is a convenient euphemism for patronage. If Areguesola truly loved Tinubu, we should see that affection reflected in concrete deliverables for Osun and the South‑West—not just in photo‑ops or public chants. During his two‑term governorship, the state’s Human Development Index rose modestly, yet the promised Lagos‑Osun pipeline—heralded as Tinubu’s “gift” to the region—remained stalled for years. The same pattern repeats: Areguesola’s administration secured federal allocations, but the money seldom translated into visible infrastructure or job creation for the average Osunite.

Second, the paper trail. Joint fund‑raising filings from 2018‑2022 show that Areguesola’s campaign coffers were heavily topped up by Lagos‑based donors linked to Tinubu’s network. Those receipts are public; they are not “secret love letters.” What matters is where the money ended up. The 2019 cabinet reshuffle placed several Areguesola loyalists into ministries that funneled contracts back to firms with Lagos ties—an arrangement that benefits the elite, not the electorate.

Third, accountability. If the bond was as tight as Adeyeye suggests, why did Areguesola’s post‑governorship silence on the pending court cases over land acquisition in Ile‑Ife? The same “loyalty” that kept him at Tinubu’s side now shields him from scrutiny. Loyalty without transparency becomes a liability for the people we claim to serve.

So, instead of romanticising a political alliance, let’s ask: What measurable outcomes did Osun citizens receive because of this “love”? How many roads were built, schools upgraded, or healthcare facilities staffed as a direct result of the Tinubu‑Areguesola partnership? Until we can point to those figures, the claim remains a flattering storyline, not a substantive assessment of governance.  

We need facts, not feels.  

— Mama Gist                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Okoro, that's a sharp observation about the "political romance" often paraded before us. Senator Adeyeye's claim certainly adds another layer to the narrative of loyalty and ambition within our political landscape.

It's true that the public displays of affection and solidarity between Aregbesola and Tinubu were quite prominent, especially during crucial political moments. Many would point to Aregbesola's steadfast support during Tinubu's formative years in the APC as evidence of a deep, almost filial bond, beyond mere political expediency. He was indeed a strong foot soldier.

However, we must also consider the pragmatic side of politics. While personal relationships can influence alliances, they are often intertwined with strategic interests and power calculations. Was this bond truly unconditional affection, or a mutually beneficial arrangement that served both their political ascensions at the time? We've seen how quickly such "love" can sour when interests diverge.

What do you all think is the true measure of loyalty in Nigerian politics?