Engr. Rauf Aregbesola, the former governor of Osun State and current Nigerian Minister of Interior, has responded to the All Progressives Congress candidate, Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s loss in the state’s gubernatorial election on Saturday.
Aregbesola, who skipped the gubernatorial race in favor of a trip to Germany, said in a cryptic message that Osun had won the poll after Ademola Adeleke, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, was proclaimed the winner.
Aregbesola, who is at odds with Oyetola, opted not to participate in the election due to what his advisers referred to as a “official engagement.”
Oyetola’s conflict with Aregbesola has been cited by some political analysts as one of the reasons for his defeat, even though the APC prevailed in the voting location he chose, Ward 8, unit 1, Isare Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area.
Following the minister’s completion of his two terms as governor, Oyetola and Aregbesola split up not long after.
Oyetola had reduced the power of his predecessor by changing some of his policies and took steps to establish his own political system in Osun State.
Read: BREAKING: Osun Decides: PDP’s Adeleke unseats APC’s Gov. Oyetola
The rift between Aregbesola and Oyetola reached its peak when the latter fell out with his estranged benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Aregbesola sought to obstruct Oyetola’s reelection bid in the midst of his disagreement with Tinubu.
Few minutes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the PDP’s Ademola Adeleke as the election winner, Aregbesola posted a statement on his verified Facebook page implying that he was in favor of the outcome of the poll.
Aregbesola, a devout Muslim, quoted Daniel 4:17 from the bible, “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”
He further wrote, “Osun Lé Ténté”, which could be translated as “Osun is victorious”.
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