Setting The Record Straight: The Futile Slander Against Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja | Sunday Babatunde

It has come to our attention that another tissue of lies has been orchestrated to tarnish the image of His Excellency, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja. Titled “Between the Hero and the Villain of Oyo Politics: Question of Serial Betrayal,” this latest hatchet job—sponsored by known detractors and fronted by a faceless figure named “Mrs. Omobola Oladejo” from the Ibadan North Local Government is nothing more than a failed attempt at character assassination.

The purveyors of this smear campaign have no genuine allegations against Ambassador Arapaja. Instead, they rely on recycled falsehoods and baseless accusations of “betrayal.” To set the record straight, we offer the unvarnished facts.

Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja hails from the noble Oladejo Arapaja family of Kudeti, Ibadan—a family with deep-rooted political heritage. His late father was an ardent Awoist, making political service second nature to him.

Crucially, Ambassador Arapaja is a seasoned grassroots leader who believes that power belongs solely to God.

He has never engaged in desperate power struggles; every position he has held was earned through service, credibility, and providence.

Let us address the historical distortions peddled by his traducers:

Prior to the House of Representatives election in 1992, the late Governor Lam Adesina requested the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu to prevail on Arapaja to step down for the late Owolabi Olakulehin. Arapaja willingly stepped down and actively worked for the Social Democratic Party’s victory. Where were Dare Adeleke and his current detractors as at 1992? They were still in secondary school probably writing their WAEC exam.

Arapaja never had any misunderstanding with Baba Adedibu on the choice of Ekolo as the chairman of the Ibadan South East local government. An appeal was made to Baba Adedibu to support Adedoja Ekolo which he obliged. It was on record that Ademola Ige made several attacks on Baba Adedibu during the imbroglio between Baba Adedibu and then former Governor.

Ambassador Arapaja made Akeem Akogun as his political adviser when he was the deputy governor and later supported him to become the caretaker chairman of the Ibadan South East local government.

On the emergence of Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja for diplomatic position in 2012, prominent Oyo state elders—including late Chief Dejo Raimi, late Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief Jacob Adetoro, Baba Ogunlade and some PDP elders met at the Liberty stadium after the demise of former Governor Kolapo Olawuyi Isola and suggested three names from each of the senatorial districts for the position. They were Chief Saka Adegbite Balogun from Oyo North, Chief Fagbohun from Oyo South and Chief Raji Rasaki from Oyo Central. They thereafter sent Arapaja to take these names to the late Adebayo Alao Akala who was then in Abuja. Alao Akala refused to pick any of the suggested names forwarded to him because he had a preference for his kinsman from Ogbomoso in person of Senator Brymo Yusuff. His disposition was that while the serving Minister, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide was from Ibadan it would not be proper to have another person from Ibadan to occupy the diplomatic position.

As a result of his refusal to support any of the names suggested by the elders, they resolve to pick a neutral person and unanimously nominated Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja since Alao Akala had insisted on supporting Sen. Brymo Yusuff. Chief Dejo Raimi thereafter call and message former President Olusegun Obasanjo to convey their resolution to him and to prevail on Alao Akala.

Some of these elders including Chief Jacob Adetoro and Baba Ogunlade are still alive to attest to this fact. Arapaja never lobbied for the post; it came naturally based on Providence, trust and support from the aforementioned elder statesmen.

In the 2017/2018 African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary, Arapaja was one of 13 aspirants. When the candidate emerged, Arapaja accepted the outcome in good faith, leading up to the 2019 coalition that ushered in Governor Seyi Makinde.

The claims regarding official provisions made for Ambassador Arapaja during his service to the party are laughable. Holding the fort for Governor Makinde since the job required immense dedication and commitment. Expecting an ambassador of his standing to operate without basic operational logistics is simply absurd.

Furthermore, during the intense PDP internal crises, Arapaja stood firm like a rock for Governor Makinde, refusing to align with opposing factions out of pure principle despite heavy inducement His loyalty has never been in doubt.

It is ironic that critics like Dare Adeleke—who were nowhere to be found during pivotal coalition meetings now claim to know Governor Makinde who has established a relationship with Amb. Arapaja’s political move.

In 2003, Makinde work with other party faithfuls to support Arapaja’s House of Representatives campaign for the Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency as at that time he was just a party member.

In 2011, Makinde sought Arapaja’s support for the Oyo South senatorial ticket, however, Arapaja transparently declined because he refused to betray Senator Kamorudeen Adedibu, the son of his benefactor. That is the mark of true loyalty.

The current attempts to attack Ambassador Arapaja simply because he holds principled views on political succession and party rewarding mechanisms only demonstrate the desperation of his detractors.

Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja’s political track record is open, honourable, and untainted. Slander and cheap propaganda will never erase a legacy built on integrity, sacrifice, and genuine service to the people of Oyo State.