By Ishola Adeleke and Okereke Udoakpuenyi, YeyeNews.com, October 19, 2021
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has expressed his disappointment that his talent and ability are being wasted in his current position because his only visible duty now seems to be the announcement of public holidays. He expressed his discontentment at the just concluded annual Ministerial Retreat organized by President Muhammadu Buhari to access the performance of his ministers.
Sources in the presidency told YeyeNews.com reporter that there was a brief drama and a bit of confusion when Aregbesola stepped on the podium to present his scorecard before the President. According to the source, the ex-governor expressed himself eloquently but with hint of resignation: “I was a governor for eight years. Though I didn’t pay salaries but I used the money to build critical infrastructure in Osun State. But now as a Minister I have been reduced to announcement of public holidays. Even the role that one of my friends occupies in Lagos which some people mockingly refer to as a ‘Special Adviser on Gutter Affairs’ seems more honorable than my current role. Mr. President, I am an Engineer. I deserve better. I’m too good to be given the job of announcing public holidays. I’m not the Minister of Public Holidays ”, the source quoted the Minister.
An aide to Rauf Aregbesola confirmed the outburst of the Minister to YeyeNews.com reporter: “The Minister had privately discussed the issue with Mr. President on different occasions but nothing has been done about. When Nigerians see him on television nowadays, the only thing on their mind is “Which public holiday does he want to announce now?” This can really be frustrating. He might resign if nothing is done about it soon.”
Commenting on the matter, a Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs accused the Minister of being petulant and insolence for speaking in such manner in the presence of the president. “The Minister is free to go to Lagos and take the job of cleaning gutters. I am sure his friend would not hesitate to switch positions with him. Is it not the same friend of his that was crying recently that Mr. President has not invited him for tea despite all his services to the APC? Let’s be careful what we wish for, otherwise we might just receive it when we least expected”, the Special Adviser remarked.
