OSUN STATE governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke earlier today left the Osogbo Eid prayer ground angrily following a clash with ex-Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru over a sitting arrangement.
Basiru had arrived at the Eid prayer ground with Asiwaju of Osogbo, Chief Tunde Badmus and other prominent sons of Osogbo to observe Turakat congregational prayer.
Basiru sat on the reserved front-row seat but a protocol of Adeleke approached to inform him it was the seat kept for the governor.
Basiru changed his seat to another front-row seat, which the protocol still kicked against.
Just about then, Governor Adeleke arrived at the Eid prayer ground and Chief Badmus left his seat to welcome him from the gate of the prayer ground.
On his arrival, it was noticed that the protocol of the governor insisted that Basiru should leave the front row, which some indigenes resisted on the basis that Basiru is one of their prominent sons.
The scene led to an uproar and Adeleke left the area back to his car.
After some minutes, he returned and noticed that Basiru was still sitting in the front row. He then left angrily without praying.
Shortly after the governor left, Police operatives arrived at the prayer ground and shut the gate, on the worshippers pointing out that they were there to arrest Basiru on the instructions of the government.
The worshippers resisted and forced the gate open. The Turakat prayer was observed by Basiru and other prominent indigenes of Osogbo after which they all left the prayer ground.
Meanwhile, an aide to the governor gave a slightly different account of what transpired at the ground. He said that some hoodlums, led by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took over the governor’s section in an attempt to beat one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives members.
The aide, who didn’t want his name in print, claimed that the thugs were seen with arms as the governor escaped unhurt.
According to the aide, “It was an assassination attempt, the governor escaped by cheer providence and the uncanny ability of his security. Some hoodlums, led by some APC chieftains, took over the governor’s section and beat up the PDP House of Representatives member for Osogbo Federal Constituency, Hon. Moruf Gangaria. Governor Adeleke arrived at the venue with his team amidst ongoing rumpus. The governor was encircled and the security personnel practically smuggled the governor out of the place.’
“Armed thugs were seen with sophisticated weapons. On two occasions, the governor could not access the prayer point. Top Osogbo PDP leaders were molested and beaten up. The governor escaped from the scene as at the time of putting this report together without getting hurt.’’
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has appealed for calm soon after the episode at the Osogbo Eid praying ground.
The governor in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, thanked God for preserving him and his team, directing law enforcement agents to arrest culprits behind the incident.
“My good people of Osun, I appeal for calm and urge us to continue to celebrate the Sallah festival in peace. I am safe by the special grace of God”, the statement quoted the governor as saying.
“I have directed security agencies to arrest those behind the incident and get them to face the wrath of the law. The Commissioner of Police has been directed to arrest those involved, no matter how highly placed”.
Mallam Rasheed further said that the state government had meantime condemned the “orchestrated attacks on the governor by stalwarts of the APC at the praying ground. Members of the public will recall an earlier security alert on an evil plot to destabilize the peace and stability of Osun state.
“The government particularly notes with shock and surprise the role played by former senator, Ajibola Bashiru who took over the space reserved for the governor at the prayer ground. All efforts to get the former senator to vacate the space proved abortive.
“PDP members who agitated for respect for the office of the governor were beaten up. It was a scene of chaos by the time the governor arrived for the prayer.
“The government was even more shocked that thugs armed to the teeth were spotted all over the praying ground with the security information that they were imported to eliminate the governor and key government functionaries.
“The governor, who arrived at the venue hoping to observe the Eid prayers, was practically surrounded by armed thugs, prompting security men to ferry the governor into his jeep.
“For the second time, the governor attempted to enter the praying field but the encirclement by armed thugs was already visible. It was at that point that the governor had to leave the praying ground.
“The governor is now safely at home receiving guests and leaders from all walks of life”
Eighteen-Eleven Media