Former Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday returned to the state capital, Osogbo, amid cheers from his supporters, All Progressives Congress (APC) party members, and his former cabinet members.

Mr. Oyetola left the state, two days after the swearing-in of his successor, Ademola Adeleke, on Nov. 27, 2022. Oyetola was welcomed to the state by his party members and loyalists at the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Office in Osogbo.

Addressing his supporters, Mr. Oyetola said he was pleasantly surprised by the kind of welcome he received, saying that he left the state to have some rest, but was now back to campaign for his party’s victory at the forthcoming polls. “I am very happy to return home. I can see you have been longing to see me. I had wanted to enter the state quietly but was surprised by this rousing welcome. “I did not tell anybody that I was returning to the state early this morning and I am surprised to be welcomed by this massive crowd. Thank you very much. “This year will be a great year for us all; our clerics have advised us not to doubt God over our prayers. The promise of God will come to pass.

“God has told me that He will do two things for us this year; we are going to retrieve our mandate (in Osun) and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will become the president of Nigeria,” he said.

Justifying his absence from the state, Mr. Oyetola said, “I only went to rest. You can see how fresh I am looking now. I served Osun wholeheartedly for four years without resting and God intentionally orchestrated my rest for a while. “I wake up every day; I eat, sleep and watch television. I have time to receive my children and grandchildren. “I later went to Umurah (lesser hajj) with my wife to give thanks to God,” he said. Mr. Oyetola encouraged his supporters to put their minds at rest, saying that nobody can scare them away from the state.