CENTUS NWEZE REPORTINGÂ
Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, has asked the duo of Governor Ademola Adeleke and his presicessor, Isiaka Oyetola, to leave him to leave him out of their fight.
He also reacted to media comments attributed to him blaming Oyetola for the homongous N407 billion debt alleged owed by the state, saying that he does not won’t to be distracted from his work as minister.
An earlier media reported had it that Aregbesola, a former governor of the state who handed over to Oyetola but later fell out with him, blamed his successor for the debt pile up.
“Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is focused on his current assignment as the Minister of Interior and will not be distracted by the ongoing bickering.
“The actors involved in the current imbroglio are thus advised to keep his person out of their accusations and counter-accusations,” read a media statement signed by the Minister’s aide, Sola Fasure.
Aregbesola insisted that if and when he is ready to speak on the matter, all media houses would be contacted through the usual channels as it has always been the case.
The statement said: “I have read with dismay, comments attributed to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on the ongoing accusation and counter-accusation on Osun debt profile.
“This statement is thus necessary to clarify that the Minister has not made or authorised any statement on the matter.
“However, comments made by me to a reporter were misreported and attributed to him by media houses who never had a conversation with him,” the statement read.
The said report had alleged that Aregbesola accused Oyetola of causing the problem for himself because he refused to cooperate with Adeleke for proper handing over.
He purportedly said that the Osun State Accountant-General should be in a better position to give the true particulars of the indebtedness of the state, adding that the impasse was between Adeleke and Oyetola, and so he should not be in the picture.
In the said media report, Aregbesola was said to have explained that the two major loans he took had been liquidated while the other ones are long-term concessional facilities by the federal government with minimal monthly deductions.
The incumbent governor in Oyo, Adeleke, claims that the state is indebted to a tune of N407.