The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has slammed the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for attempting “to break” the state’s ruling party.

Gboyega Famodun, chairman-elect of the state in a statement on Saturday, asked Mr Aregbesola to forget thoughts of being “the Alpha and Omega of Osun State Progressive politics”.

Reacting to a statement credited to Mr Aregbesola that the party was deeply factionalised in the state, Mr Famodun described the development as unfortunate.

According to him, it is unfortunate that the minister, who was the immediate-past governor of the state, could champion subversive activities against the political party that made him.

The minister on Friday, during the inauguration of the Digital Nigeria Centre in Ilesa, said that APC in Osun was deeply divided, saying that he belong to the other faction, “The Osun Progressives (TOP).

“For those who don’t know, APC is divided into two here (Osun). We have APC, Rauf Aregbesola’s faction, which is chaired by Hon Razaq Salinsile and the other. When it’s time, we will settle it.

“The caucus that birthed our own faction of APC is called TOP. Those wondering whether I belong to TOP or not should open their ears widely. I am TOP, body and soul and the Chairman of TOP is Adelowo Adebiyi,” Mr Aregbesola was quoted as saying.

Mr Famodun, however, said “Osun APC is too strong for Aregbesola to break.

“This is a political party that transformed his life from that of obscurity to the limelight, through prestigious offices, as a Commissioner in Lagos State, two terms Governor of Osun and a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“His recent statement in Ilesa reduces his status as a former governor and as a serving minister of a party, he claimed to belong.

“He should be told that there is no amount of intrigues by him that is capable of bungling the second term ambition of Gov. Oyetola,” he said.

(NAN)