Immediate past governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, has rubbished reports saying he has turned down an offer to serve on President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet as a minister.
Reports went round earlier in the day that he had rejected the ministerial appointment offered him by President Buhari, saying the appointment should rather go to a younger member of the All Peogressives Congress (APC).
But in a chat with Newspeakonline, the former governor denied rejecting any offer saying no ministerial appointment was offered him in the first place.
He said his remarks were misconstued as he only only expressed preference for the Senate since he had been focused on his petition challenging his loss of the senatorial election to Senator Kola Balogun of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the tribunal.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Balogun winner of the Oyo South Senatorial District election held in February.
Explaining his position, Ajimobi said: “I am in court for my senatorial election. I only expressed my preference, that I am in court because I prefer the Senate. How can I be pursuing the Senate and ministerial appointment at the same time? I prefer the Senate. I hold President Muhammadu Buhari in high esteem. I will actually prefer a younger person to be considered for the ministerial slot since I am pursuing my senatorial ambition.”
He accused sponsors of the misleading report of attempting to cause disaffection between him and President Buhari for whom he has a lot of respect.
“I don’t know the source of their report. They just want to set me against Mr President and it won’t work.” he said.
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