Arapaja’s Political Value Predates Makinde’s Support — Arapaja’s Aide

…As Ex-PDP Chieftain’s aide says Arapaja earned political relevance through experience, loyalty, capacity

The Personal Assistant to the former Chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Bamitale Ibrahim, has said the political relevance of former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, cannot be attributed solely to the support of Governor Seyi Makinde.

Ibrahim, who made the assertion in a statement, argued that political leaders do not ordinarily entrust important responsibilities to individuals they consider politically irrelevant, stressing that Arapaja had demonstrated experience, capacity, loyalty and political value over the years.

According to him, the repeated confidence reposed in Arapaja by Governor Makinde was an indication that the former deputy governor had valuable political attributes to contribute to the administration and its political structure.

He also dismissed attempts to rewrite the political history between Makinde and Arapaja, noting that there was hardly any period during their political relationship when Arapaja was publicly accused of betraying the trust placed in him.

Ibrahim maintained that political relationships should not be viewed as acts of charity, but as partnerships in which individuals and political actors contribute their respective values, experience, loyalty and networks.

He further criticised what he described as attempts by some individuals to take credit for or rewrite Arapaja’s political journey, saying those making such claims had contributed little to the political process they now sought to explain.

“If your argument is that Arapaja owes everything to Makinde, then perhaps you should also explain why a man with supposedly no political value was repeatedly considered relevant enough to be given significant responsibilities,” he said.

Ibrahim said the ongoing political realignment in Oyo State was already taking shape, expressing confidence that the development would strengthen the APC’s structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He added that the party and its supporters were focused on building a political structure capable of delivering victory for the APC in Oyo State in 2027.