I Commiserate With My Brother – Aregbesola’s Letter To Basiru Over Mother’s Demise Sparks Fresh Talks

Former Osun State Governor and leader of the Omoluabi Progressives, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has publicly reached out to his former political ally turned rival, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, over the death of the senator’s mother, describing him as “my brother” in what has become the first public display of warmth between the two in years.

The condolence message has attracted attention in Osun political circles because of the long-running political feud between Aregbesola and Basiru, who once worked closely together under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Basiru served as Commissioner during Aregbesola’s administration before later rising to become the National Secretary of the party.

Aregbesola, on the other hand, has since left the All Progressives Congress (APC), floated the Omoluabi Progressives and is now aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Despite their political differences, Aregbesola set aside partisan considerations in his emotional tribute following the death of Mama Alhaja Sidikatu Abake Basiru.

Titled, “A Matriarch Departs: Mama Alhaja Sidikatu Abake Basiru, sun re o!”—a Yoruba expression meaning “May she rest peacefully”—Aregbesola reflected on his own painful experience of losing his mother and said he understood the depth of Basiru’s grief.

Quoting the Islamic prayer, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un,” meaning, “Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return,” the former governor wrote: “Death is an inevitable end for every mortal.”

He recalled that Basiru was the one who informed him of his own mother’s death several years ago while they were on an official assignment.

“Just as it came for the mother of Suraju Ajibola Basiru yesterday, so it did for mine exactly nine years save 34 days ago. We were in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, on a Progressive Governors’ assignment when Suraju walked into my room early that morning to break the news of my mother’s passing. I therefore have first-hand experience of the pain of losing a mother unexpectedly,” he wrote.

Aregbesola then addressed the senator in deeply personal terms, saying: “I commiserate with my brother, Suraju Ajibola Basiru, on the transition of his dear mother to eternity.”

He prayed that the deceased would be accepted by Allah as “a devout Muslim and loving mother” and be granted Al-Jannah Firdaus, the highest level of Paradise in Islamic belief.

The former governor also prayed for the bereaved family, saying: “May Allah SWT uphold the entire family with faith, patience, grace and mercy.”

Describing the late matriarch as “this great woman — a true matriarch,” Aregbesola added: “I share in the grief of the family for the loss of this great woman — a true matriarch. May you all be roundly comforted and granted the fortitude to bear this huge and irreparable loss.”

He concluded by praying: “I pray for Mama’s awakening to joyful activities on the other side. Please accept my deepest condolences.”

The condolence message has generated fresh conversations across Osun State’s political landscape, with many observers interpreting Aregbesola’s reference to Basiru as “my brother” as a remarkable gesture, given the prolonged political estrangement between the two men who once stood on the same political platform but now belong to opposing political camps ahead of the 2027 electoral contest.