Agboola, who is the Deputy Senate Whip, went to beg the former governor of Oyo State in his Ogbomoso home yesterday in company of some traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun area of the state.
It was learnt that the senator, who represents Oyo North at the Senate, took the decision after series of consultations with opinion and traditional leaders in his constituency who were uncomfortable with his continued rebellion against his former boss.
It is believed that Alao-Akala paved way for Agboola's emergence as the senatorial candidate and his ultimate victory at the election. The senatorial district consists of the 10 local governments in Oke-Ogun and three local governments in Ogbomoso, including Ogbomoso North Local Government, where Alao-Akala hails from.
But the senator rebelled against the former governor shortly after the latter's loss in the 2011 governorship election to the incumbent, Abiola Ajimobi.
It is believed that Agboola chose to rebel to prevent the former governor from dislodging him in the 2015 election, basing his permutation on the fact that Alao-Akala might not get the governorship ticket in the next year election. Such loss, he reasoned, could make him fall back on senatorial ticket in which Agboola is still keenly interested.
Their rift reached a crescendo at the Southwest congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan at the weekend when the former governor reached for the ballot paper in the hands of party delegates and tore them to prevent them from voting. Senator Agboola was among the victims.
It was leant that the senator had colluded with some governorship aspirants of Ibadan extract and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide to replace Alao-Akala's candidate at the congress with that of the minister.
In an interview with reporters, Senator Agboola described Akala's action as a "show of shame," recalling that the former governor grabbed him from behind,snatched his ballot paper and tore it. He said the action was unbefitting of a former governor.
Alao-Akala has since denied the act.
But the senator prostrated before his former boss yesterday, begging him for forgiveness.
The reason for his apology is unclear. Could it be that the senator wants to warm himself into the heart of the former governor to prevent him from joining the senatorial contest should he lose the battle for governorship ticket? Or could it be that he still needs Akala's support to garner enough votes to return to the Senate?
Whatever may be the motive, what is clear is that Alao-Akala is regaining his political strength, particularly within the PDP where Ibadan aspirants are ganging up with a view to preventing him from flying the party's flag for the third time.
ENDS
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