By Ayodele Oni
Members of the Osun Top Progressives, (TOP) a faction loyal to the former Governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola have announced return to the mainstream of the party and cessation of hostility.
The faction, after it failed to produce the governorship candidate of the party for July election, allegedly worked against APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, which led to his defeat at the election.
Despite efforts by leadership of the party to resolve the crisis, the Aregbesola led faction stood its ground and surreptitiously worked for the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Ademola Adeleke, that eventually won the election.
Aregbesola, Minister of interior, was not in the country on the day of the governorship election in the state, which some of his followers boycotted.
Former Governor Oyetola is currently challenging the outcome of the poll at the Election Petition Tribunal.
The dissolution of TOP, was announced on Tuesday in Osogbo, with members of the caucus announcing their return to the APC.
Their spokesman, Dr Najeem Salaam called for support of all progressive minded individuals, to join efforts at rebuilding the party, for future electoral successes.
Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly, stated that the dissolved TOP was formed on the basis of promoting the trajectory of the progressives from the Action Group days to the formation of the APC.
He said TOP is now ceasing on its hostilities, inviting genuine Progressives to an all-inclusive meeting for the rebuilding of the party, within the next one week.
He called on party members across the state to bury the hatchet and work for the greater good and service to humanity through progressive governance.
As a move to fast-track the rebuilding process, Salaam noted that the core progressives will setup a truth and reconciliation forum within the party, when fully restructured to prevent any recurrence of the ugly past.
It is not immediately known whether the returnee TOP members will embrace the leadership structure of the party, put in place by former Governor Oyetola.
 a faction loyal to the former Governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola have announced return to the mainstream of the party and cessation of hostility. The faction, after it failed to produce the governorship candidate of the party for July election, allegedly worked against APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, which led to his defeat at the election.){kind=link}