The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, has described the alleged rift between the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as a “mere distraction”.
He said this in his weekly column obtained via his Facebook page on Friday.
The PUNCH reports that there was speculation of “cold war” on Tuesday between Tinubu and Aregbesola after the APC banned its Mandate Group and Justice Forum in Lagos.
The presidential aide narrated that the speculation came barely 24 hours to when Aregbesola was expected to give an account of his ministry at the Federal Executive Council meeting.
READ ALSO:Abacha survived eight coup attempts –Al-Mustapha
Adesina wrote, “Wednesday, June 10, 2020, was ‘judgment day’ for Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. Incidentally, the day had broken with stories of denials of a rift between him and his political mentor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former two-term Governor of Lagos State, and National Leader of All Progressives Congress.


“The APC had outlawed all party sub-groups in Lagos, where Aregbesola had his political foundations, and still maintains a stranglehold, despite having been a two-term Governor in Osun State.
“The buzz was that the Minister was possibly eyeing the Presidency in 2023, a diadem also reportedly coveted by his mentor, so the rug had to be pulled off under his feet early enough. Frost followed. Cold War, said the rumor mills.
“Strident denials came from the Tinubu and Aregbesola camps. And it was mere distraction for the Minister, as he had a huge assignment ahead of him on that same Wednesday. It was his turn to brief the Federal Executive Council, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, on his stewardship, since assuming office in August last year.”
DOWNLOAD THE PUNCH NEWS APP NOW ON



More in Home


COVID-19: India evacuates 312 citizens from Nigeria


Buhari says insurgency, banditry downgraded


Blogger accuses Kwara policeman of extortion


NSCDC nabs Boko Haram’s aphrodisiac supplier in Borno


1,000 ghost workers uncovered on Kwara payroll, officials arrested
Receive Alerts on: Whatsapp:​+2349090060943, Twitter: @MobilePunch, BBM: C003D3DC0
Share your story with us: SMS: +2349090060943, Whatsapp: +2349090060943, Email:







2023: TINUBU VS AREGBESOLA FEMI ADESINA
Subscribe to Punch News Alert
Email Address *
Subscribe


TODAY IN HOME



HOME JUST IN NEWS Bayelsa/Kogi Elections COVID-19 UPDATES METRO PLUS SPORTS BUSINESS HEALTHWISE ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNS EDITORIAL SPECIAL FEATURES ADVERTISE
HOMEJUST INNEWS Bayelsa/Kogi Elections COVID-19 UPDATESMETRO PLUSSPORTSBUSINESSHEALTHWISEENTERTAINMENTCOLUMNS ALL COLUMNSOPINIONSEX & SEXUALITYEDITORIALSPECIAL FEATURESADVERTISEPUNCH GAMES