Former Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola ascribed the disagreement he experienced with his successor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration to the devil.
Aregbesola said that the devil successfully encouraged enmity to flourish between them during the Supreme Court victory party in July 2019. He made this claim while speaking in Yoruba during a rally organized by his supporters to welcome him back to the state at Freedom Park, Osogbo.
The former minister hailed President Bola Tinubu, who recognized and backed him from 1999 from Lagos state, for his political accomplishments.
However, he begged for pardon from everyone who felt wronged by the previous four incidents, claiming that he was in the state to work for peace and the growth of the progressive tendency.
He claims that politics in this region of the world revolve around animosity, but I am not here for that today. We are here to look for forgiveness and reconciliation. My accomplishments as governor were a team effort, including some who have now turned against us.
“We gathered here in July 2019 following the Supreme Court decision, where we appeal to our unity. On that day, I said that I would finish my term and hand the reins over to the person I wanted, but I also cautioned that I would continue to serve as the godfather and that it was up to my successor to be a good person.
“However, my words were misinterpreted, and the devil took control, causing the rift that lasted four years. Despite the fact that I made no requests of my successor, some people may have been jealous of our presence. I still ask for forgiveness from anyone who were hurt by some of our acts in spite of all of this.
I promise not to beg anyone again after this. It’s possible that they feel we insulted them, which is why we are asking for forgiveness, even though we didn’t offend anyone and we don’t think anyone did, he added.