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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, did not take part in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
According to reports, Aregbesola, has travelled abroad to attend a conference.
According to an aide of the minister, Aregbesola shunned the election to avoid a crisis.
Recall that Aregbesola publicly moved against the second-term ambition of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in the build up to the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
Instead, Aregbesola, who is the immediate past governor of the state endorsed the former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, who later lost to Oyetola at the primaries, held on February 19.
It was learnt that the minister was in Lagos State on Thursday before travelling to Abuja on Friday.
Aregbesola’s media adviser, Sola Fasure, confirmed the minister’s absence, in the and interview with The PUNCH
“He proceeded on an official assignment on Friday,” Fasure said.
The media aide noted that Aregbesola was not invited to work for Oyetola’s second-term bid in the state.
He also said the minister was not named in the Osun State campaign council by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Aregbesola is not in Osogbo. He is on an official assignment. He was not invited and not a part of the election council. The governor did not also invite him to be part of the campaign,” he said.
Meanwhile, akara (bean cake) is being shared at the entrance of Aregbesola’s residence in Ilesa.
In a video circulated online, the akara is being shared to people in the area.