By Samuel Adegoke
The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr. Remi Olaniyan, has cleared the air on Mrs Florence Ajimobi’s outburst against him during her husband’s funeral.
Asked if the relationship between him and Mrs Ajimobi is now robust, Olaniyan said: “Mrs Ajimobi did not offend me in the first place. She was grieving at the time and in that state could do anything that is considered abnormal. So, I understand fully. I did not feel offended by the two incidents.”
Mrs Ajimobi, who lost her husband on June 25, expressed disappointment with the deputy governor when he visited their Oluyole, Ibadan home to commiserate with her few days after the former governor’s death. She complained that neither the governor nor his deputy call to commiserate with her, despite her late husband serving the state for eight years.
On the day of burial, Olaniyan’s delegation was also denied access to the venue. The security at the gate told him that the gate key was with Mrs Ajimobi who was at the funeral site.
He said: “When I saw the behaviour of the men around the house that day, I told my security aides that nobody must touch anybody. I said they must keep their heads when others are losing theirs. We must keep our omoluabi ethos in all situations. That’s the first requirement in politics. Then, you load yourself with patience.
We have spoken after that and we have moved on. She was grieving and nobody can fully understand the enormity of that grief except you are in her shoes. And I pray God Almighty not to allow us taste that grief. So there is nothing she did that she needs to apologize for.”
