Former Governor of Osun and Minister for Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has explained the reason behind the absence of Governor Gboyega Oyetola at his turbarning ceremony as the Amirul Wazirul-Muminina of Osun State.
He said they were in contact and was aware that the Governor was on lesser hajj to Saudi Arabia, saying his absence was not based on hatred.
The Leagues of Imams and Alfa in Osun on Friday turbanned Governor Aregbesola as the Amirul Wazirul-Muminina of the state. The Minister also commissioned the newly-renovated Osogbo Central Mosque.
Speaking shortly after being turbanned, the Minister denied insinuation that Governor Oyetola intentionally shunned the programme, saying, “though , the governor is not here, but he is here in spirit.
“We spoke yesterday and this morning. He’s not here because prior to the verdict of the Supreme Court delivered in July, Oyetola had pledged to God that he would be proceeding to Makkah for lesser hajj before the year 2019 runs out if he won the case.
“After winning the court case, the governor has been too busy with administrative work that he forgot to fulfil his promise.
“As the year almost runs out, he has to proceed on the lesser hajj to appreciate Almighty Allah for in line with his pledge.
“So I want to tell everyone that his absence here is known to me and I’m commissioning this mosque today on his behalf.”
“As at the time this mosque was renovated, he was the Defacto Governor and he was a key player in the construction of this mosque, hence I’m commissioning this mosque on his behalf”, Aregbesola reiterated.
