by Lekan Olanrewaju

Oyo state governor has spoke  out in defense of his colleague and fellow ACN party member, Osun state governor Rauf Aregbesola, dismissing claims the latter is planning to secede Osun state from Nigeria, and describing them as “pedestrian”. He went on to throw a few barbs the way of those who had made the accusation, describing them as “disgruntled politicians who cannot win elections.”

“The governor said that those behind the rumours were disgruntled politicians who were feeling jittery over the outstanding performance of Aregbesola who had transformed Osun State to the consternation of his detractors” he said in a statement released by his special advisor or media, Dr Festus Adedayo.

“Those who are saying these are politicians of yesterday who could not win elections; who are afraid of the performance of Aregbesola. See how he is changing Osun State and for anyone to turn around and say that he wants to secede; how is he trying to secede?”

Speaking to journalists after paying a condolence visit to Ekiti state governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, over the death of his mother, Mrs. Dorcas Aina Fayemi, he defended Aregbesola’s decision to fly the Osun state flag, saying he would begin to fly the flag of his own state as well.

“It is a very pedestrian accusation and I think Nigerians are wiser now” governor Ajimobi said. “Nobody can deceive them with all those insinuations. In fact, I am going to start flying my state flag from next week”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had previously accused Osun state governor Rauf Aregbesola of taking student union leaders to Cuba for military training as part of a plan to secede from the nation, to which the ACN responded by calling members of the party “charlatans”.

The PDP has however refused to back down, insisting that governor Aregbesola had “sinister motives” and was “planning against the unity” of the country.

“With the ACN spokesperson’s justification of the introduction of hijab in the Osun State public schools, change of the state’s constitutionally recognised name to State of Osun, introduction of new anthem and coat of arm, among others, it should now be clear to discerning minds that Aregbesola was planing against the unity of Nigeria.” the party said on Saturday, in a statement issued by its PDP zonal publicity secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade.

“Nigerians no longer need to look too far as to the sinister motives that we have said Aregbesola has against the corporate existence of Nigeria since it has been confirmed through his party’s spokesperson.”