Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, was on Friday absent at the interdenominational service held for the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Moshood Adeoti, said the governor was unavoidably absent because he was invited to Lagos for a very urgent meeting.

The governor eulogised the late monarch for his contributions toward the promotion of Yoruba culture.

He said the late monarch sent a text message to him before he travelled abroad for medical attention and committed him and the state government into the continuous guidance of God.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the August 9, 2014 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who is a prominent son of Ife, attended the ceremony.