Osun Guber: Najeem Salam’s Supporters Angry With TOP Over Adeoti’s Choice – Baderinwa

For the first time since crisis broke out within the ranks of the The Osun Progressives (TOP) backed by former Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over the choice of its governorship aspirant, Secretary of the Splinter group and former Osun Information Commissioner, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, has publicly admitted cracks within its fold.

He also confirmed that supporters of the Osun former Speaker, Najeem Salam, on Sunday expressed anger at the group for ditching their benefactor for the former Osun SSG, who came second in the shadow election organised by the group to decide its governorship aspirant.

TOP has been waging a political war with the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State and has vowed to seize the APC ticket from Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who already enjoys the backing of the structure and critical stakeholders of the party, including pioneer Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.

To finalise its strategies to do battle with Oyetola, TOP held its shadow primary where Salam emerged victorious, polling 50 votes, Adeoti 20 and Hon. Lasun Yusuff 10 votes. But rather than support Salam to obtain his Governorship Nomination Form, Adeoti was chosen, a development that has pit Salam and his supporters against TOP leaders, including former Osun Governor, Aregbesola.

By Sunday, TOP leadership moved to pacify the former Speaker, but reports say the former Speaker rebuffed the entreaties, a development some TOP sympathisers have tried to deny.

However, Baderinwa, has confirmed that there are cracks within TOP. He said “I was at Rt. Hon. Najeem Salam’s country home meeting as established in one of the pictures. Salam’s mien was not different at today’s meeting. Even when he expressed reservations at some issues, he was as audible as he has always been. No word of anger but clear expression of his feelings.

“He has kind words for Rauf Aregbesola and the leadership of TOP even when he noted that there could have been a better end to how things went within the caucus.

“The party’s leadership in Ejigbo LG were in attendance and had bared their minds on the way things went on the matter of governorship ticket within the TOP Caucus. They, as expected, expressed dissatisfaction and anger about it.”