By James Orji
Barely one week after the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola lashes out at Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and ruling APC National Leader, as a traitor Tinubu has described the minister as a loyal and trusted friend. Tinubu in his congratulatory message to Aregbesola on his 63rd birthday described him as ‘loyal and dependable’ and a bold politician who is not afraid to speak his mind.
The minister had while barring his mind on the feud between him and Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state, his successor blamed Tinubu for the political problems in his state. He said Tinubu is trying to play God and is supporting Governor Oyetola to undermine him and destroy his legacies in the state.He accused Tinubu of not standing by him during his trying times with Oyetola, adding that he served the APC stalwart loyally.
, “We followed him (Tinubu) dutifully with all sense of loyalty. Some people even thought that we were no longer Muslims because of how we cooperated with him.Â
“We dealt with him without treachery but we never knew he planned evil for us. We exalted him beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us and we had sworn to ridicule anyone who compare himself to God. God has no competitor; He is enough to be God,” Aregbesola said.
But in his congratulatory message to the minister, Tinubu who has declared to run for president, said he can still rely on Aregbesola.He said Aregbesola proved his feat while he served in Lagos as a commissioner and has also proven his mettle as a performing minister.
According to Tinubu, “Ogbeni Aregbesola has done a lot for his state and country. He laid the foundation for the infrastructural development of the State of Osun and turned it to what it is today: a modern state.
“He is creative and innovative. He provided inspirational leadership in Osun and now at the centre in Abuja. “An engineer and political activist,
“Aregbesola made the difference in Lagos as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure for eight years, in Osun as governor for two terms and at present as Minister of Interior.
“He is resolute and committed to worthy causes. He is bold, courageous and always eager to take decisions that would impart the lives of a majority of our people. “Aregbesola is loyal and dependable. He is someone I describe as my partner, comrade, friend and brother.
“He is an exceptional grassroots campaigner and mobilizer. And he remains valuable to us in APC,” Tinubu said.Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ikeja, James Faleke has described Aregbesola as an ungrateful person. Rather than abusing Tinubu, Faleke said the minister should be grateful to him for making him what he is today.
