The spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Olawale Rasheed, has denied reports that his principal turned down invitations from President Bola Tinubu.
Rasheed, in a statement on Thursday, claimed that the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola and the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) blocked the Governor from seeing the President.
He made the claim in response to an earlier allegation by the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Adenigba Fadahunsi, who said in a recent interview that Governor Adeleke rejected several invitations from President Tinubu in 2025.
However, Rasheed described the senator’s statement as “a failed, weak attempt to rewrite history that is still very fresh in the minds of Nigerians and Osun people.”
He added that Adeleke met with the President in the company of his family members, but further interactions were prevented by the Minister.
According to him, his principal won’t succumb to such political distractions.
“Governor Adeleke responded to the invitation of Mr President. He actually met the President with his family members. But the process was truncated by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola. The public is fully aware of the development. Senator Fadahunsi cannot twist or falsify history.
“After he was blocked, the governor moved ahead to endorse the re-election of Mr President first while he was in PDP and now that he is in the Accord. Governor Adeleke only recently listed cogent reasons why he endorsed Mr President.
“All other personal attacks on the governor by Senator Fadahunsi are immaterial. The governor is daily receiving endorsement of multiple sectors of Osun society. From all corners of Osun State, residents and indigenes appreciate the extraordinary performance of Mr Governor.
“The governor holds his head high as he rides on the grace of God and the people to victory on August 15. No amount of historical falsification can change reality. From the presidency to the lowest rung of Osun society, the governor is acclaimed as a true agent of development and a man of the people,” the spokesperson said.
