Adeleke To Arapaja: “You Are Full Of False Allegations; Kind-Hearted Makinde Picked You From The Gutter Of Infamy”
Dare Adeleke has launched a scathing attack on Taofeeq Arapaja, accusing the former deputy governor of betraying Governor Seyi Makinde, whom he claimed helped restore Arapaja’s political relevance.
Adeleke, in a strongly worded article, described Arapaja as ungrateful, alleging that Makinde supported him when he was at a low point in his political career and helped bring him back into the limelight.
He wrote, “There has never been such a shameless betrayer as Taofeeq Arapaja. This was a man who had fallen to his lowest, detested by his peers and scorned by his own people, when Gov. Seyi Makinde picked him up from his ragged cocoon, brushed him up with fine robes and brought him into the limelight.”
Adeleke further alleged that Arapaja had continued to benefit from the governor’s support while turning against him politically.
He claimed that Arapaja retained a house and vehicles allegedly provided by Makinde, even as he accused him of aligning with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and engaging in what he described as a campaign of calumny, falsehood and outright lies.
Adeleke also criticised Arapaja for his comments about Bimbo Adekanmbi, whom he described as a man of character and the incoming governor of Oyo State.
He accused Arapaja of making what he characterised as false allegations of fraud against individuals who, according to him, had no access to the funds in question.
“It is becoming clear, and the APC should take note, that Arapaja is trying to make up for his lack of political clout by concocting these phantom allegations,” Adeleke wrote.
He also referred to the position of Barrister Sarafa Alli, who, according to him, had indicated his intention to seek legal redress over the allegations.
Adeleke questioned Arapaja’s understanding of the financial issues involved, asking whether a commissioner of finance had any responsibility for Joint Account Committee (JAC) allocations.
He further faulted Arapaja’s references to the late former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), questioning Arapaja’s authority to speak on behalf of the Ajimobi family.
Adeleke also revisited Arapaja’s political history, alleging that the late Ajimobi had not trusted him when he joined the APC. He further claimed that Arapaja had previously fallen out with his political mentor, the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu.
According to Adeleke, Makinde subsequently offered Arapaja political support when others had distanced themselves from him.
Concluding his article, Adeleke urged Arapaja to refrain from making statements he considered damaging and questioned his integrity.
“I will advise Arapaja for the umpteenth time to shut his filthy mouth!” Adeleke wrote.