Reacting to the trending denial of the Oyo State Deputy Governor Engr. Rauf Olaniyan entrance to attend the eighth day fidau prayer of former Governor of the State, Abiola Ajimobi in Oluyole, Ibadan.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State has describe the claim that the prayer was a family affair as a fallacy in its entirety, noting that the family was aware of the Deputy Governor’s presence.
According to a statement by the party’s Publicity secretary, Engr. Akeem Olatunji said ;
“To the unsuspecting members of the public, kindly disregard APC Media team press release in its entirety. it was not a private Family Affair because Otunba Alao Adebayo Akala and many others were there, and the family were well informed in advance that the Deputy Governor will be leading the Government delegates to the event.
” It was reported that this security personnel at the gate, informed the Government delegation that there was an order from madam not to allow the Government delegation in the venue.
He however commended Engr. Olaniyan for making a decision of returning in good manner to show what he refers to as “Omoluabi ethos”.
On the contrary, one of the aide to the Former Governor of Oyo State, Bolaji Tunji claimed that the Deputy Governor arrived after the commencement of the prayer which was strictly a family affair in compliance with the COVID-19 protocol as established by NCDC on gathering not more than 30 people and to maintain social distancing.
Tunji added that “no one was aware that the Deputy Governor was coming as neither the advance team nor the protocol informed us.
“By the time we got to the gate to usher him into the sitting room, he had left. Everything happened within a spate of ten minutes.”
“Through a serving Senator and Former Attorney General, we try to get in touch with him. It was not to slight him, and he could sit in a private sitting room provided by the family. Unfortunately, he left in a hurry. We apologise to his Excellency.
Ibukunoluwa Temitope
