The family of the late former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, have said that they were not informed that the deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, would be attending the eight-day Fidau prayer held on Sunday for the late Ajimobi.
Mr Olaniyan was denied access to the Oluyole residence of Ajimobi in Ibadan for the prayer.
In a statement issued on behalf of the family, Ajimobi’s media aide, Bolaji Tunji, said the prayer was strictly a family affair.
“There is the need to clarify the believed presence of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan at the 8th day prayer of HE Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the immediate past Governor of Oyo State,” the statement read.
“The Deputy Governor arrived after the prayer had started. The event was strictly a family affair. There was a need to comply with the Covid-19 protocol as established by NCDC- Social distancing, not more than 30 people in a place and seats arranged, accordingly. After which the gate was shut.
“No one was aware that the Deputy Governor was coming as neither the advance team nor the protocol inform 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 10 minutes.
“Through a serving Senator and a former Attorney General we tried to get in touch with him that it was not to slight him and he could sit in a private sitting room provided by the family. Unfortunately, he had left. We however apologise to his Excellency.”
Ajimobi’s widow, Florence, had last week accused Olaniyan and the governor, Seyi Makinde, of playing politics with her husband’s death.
She said the Oyo State Government treated her husband unfairly in his last days and ignored his family.
