Rauf Aregbesola, the former Minister of Interior, has expressed deep regret and extended a plea for forgiveness to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and others who may have been offended by his actions during his time in office.
Aregbesola, who served as the Governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018, handed over the reins to Oyetola, his former Chief of Staff, after winning the 2018 governorship election.
Lately, the former Minister has been critical of Oyetola’s re-election and has voiced his dissatisfaction with party elders for not admonishing Oyetola for overturning his policies.
In an effort to reconcile and heal the divisions, Aregbesola visited the palaces of Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun, and Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the Ataoja of Osogbo, before addressing his supporters at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in the capital of Osun State.
During his address, delivered in Yoruba, Aregbesola expressed his gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari for providing him with the opportunity to serve as a Minister. He also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for playing a significant role in his political journey and entrusting him with power.
Aregbesola humbly stated, “My return to Osun is not fueled by animosity or bitterness, but by the desire to reconcile our party. Today, I sincerely ask for forgiveness from anyone I may have offended. The reason people applaud my achievements in Osun today is because of the remarkable work I accomplished during my time in government. Those who have now turned against me were once my colleagues in government.”
He further recognized President Tinubu’s instrumental role in his political success, stating, “I thank God for elevating me from Lagos, with the assistance of President Bola Tinubu, who is the mastermind behind my accomplishments. I served as a commissioner in Lagos for eight years. In 2004, during a meeting in Badagry, we deliberated on how to regain control of our states from the opposition party. President Tinubu and other Yoruba leaders directed me to take charge of Osun State and bring it back under our party’s influence.”
Aregbesola also reflected on his tenure as Governor, acknowledging the challenges he faced and the emergence of adversaries over the past four years. He recounted an incident after the Supreme Court ruling in 2019 when he met with the individual he had handed power over to.
Aregbesola explained, “I informed him that I had fulfilled my obligations and handed power to the person I supported. However, I emphasized the significance of fostering unity within the party. If this goal were achieved, I would gladly serve as a mentor. Unfortunately, my intentions were misinterpreted. I never sought anything from them while they held power.”
