Aregbesola absent at Ooni’s burial

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, was on Friday absent at the interdenominational service held for the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Moshood Adeoti, said the governor was unavoidably absent because he was invited to Lagos for a very urgent meeting.

The governor praised the late monarch for his contribution toward the promotion of Yoruba culture.

 He said the late monarch sent a text message to him before he travelled abroad for treatment and committed him and the state government into the continuous guidance of the Almighty God.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in August 9, 2014 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who is a prominent son of Ife was present at the ceremony.

Some of the residents present during the service grumbled aloud, saying the governor placed more importance on the Lagos meeting than attending the burial of the monarch.

But others said Aregbesola deliberately shunned the service in order not to meet with Omisore, his political rival.