The immediate past lawmaker representing Atakunmosa East/Atakunmosa West State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Babatunde Festus Komolafe, has critiqued the Omoluabi Caucus, led by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, describing the group as sinking into political irrelevance.
Komolafe emphasized that the All Progressives Congress in Osun State remains united and dismissed claims of factionalism within the party. He criticized the Omoluabi Caucus for engaging in activities detrimental to the party’s image, which the party leadership has condemned as anti-party behavior.
Speaking at the 4th edition of the Oyetola Hand of Fellowship event on Sunday in Modakeke, Komolafe addressed the negative impact of the group’s actions. He praised the commitment and dedication of loyal APC members for resisting the group’s divisive tactics.
Komolafe urged party loyalists to stay resolute and resist any overtures from the Omoluabi Caucus, while also leaving the door open for genuine reconciliation: “I want to reiterate that our party is one united entity and that there is no faction or division. You may be hearing from some people who call themselves different names under the guise of our platform. I want to tell you that we don’t have any factions in our party.”
He continued, “Also, you might have seen some people calling themselves Omoluabi. I want to tell you that none of them could be more Omoluabi than all of us here. They are a bunch of mischief-makers deceiving people with sugar-coated words to lure them into their destructive adventure, having failed several times with their sinister tendencies to decimate the party from the bottom up.”
Highlighting the deceptive practices of the group, Komolafe stated, “We are aware of their antics. We have realized that many of them have been spreading lies here and there to deceive unsuspecting members of the public, just as they did in the last elections.”
He further condemned their actions during the last elections: “They pretended to be with us but voted and worked against the party. Many of them have forgotten that nothing goes unpunished. If our party were in government today in the state, many would have been senators, members of the House of Representatives, members of the House of Assembly, chairmen, and councilors, among others, but they chose to pull down the ladder that often aided them to the limelight.”
Komolafe warned against falling for the group’s tactics: “It is becoming obvious that they are drifting toward the path of irredeemable destruction, and I want to appeal to you all not to allow yourselves to be lured or induced by whatever means or used for the implementation of their destructive motives.”
He concluded with a call for unity within the party, expressing optimism for the future: “By the grace of God, we are coming back to government in 2026. So, this information is essential to you all because coming back to government is a collective effort. That is why it is incumbent on every one of us to work together as an indivisible progressive family; a formidable and unsurpassable entity to send the present government in the state packing come 2026.”
Meanwhile, in August 2023, former Governor Aregbesola inaugurated the Omoluabi Caucus, presenting it as a group committed to progressive ideals within the APC. He clarified that the caucus is not a faction but a union of like-minded individuals, representing members from all 332 wards in the state.
In a related development, the Oranmiyan House office of Aregbesola in Osogbo was revamped in May, with the pictures of President Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande being replaced by those of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige.
