“The government particularly notes with shock and surprise the role played by former Senator Ajibola Basiru who took over the space reserved for the Governor at the prayer ground,” Osun State Government said.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Drama played out on Wednesday at the Osogbo Eid prayer ground in Osun State between the camp of Governor Ademola Adeleke and Senator Ajibola Basiru.
Both men have been at each other’s throats for a while.
According to reports, Basiru, the immediate past spokesperson for the Senate, arrived at the prayer ground located at Oke-Baale area in Osogbo and allegedly sat at the spot reserved for the governor.
When Adeleke arrived, efforts were allegedly made for the federal lawmaker to leave the space reserved for the governor but this yielded no result.
The governor left the ground without performing the Eid-el Kabir Two Raka’a and headed to his country home, according to his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
The police reportedly locked the entrance to the prayer ground after the prayers were completed, though it was opened moments later for attendees to leave.
In a statement released afterwards, Adeleke appealed for calm after the chaos that greeted his arrival at the prayer ground.
“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.
“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,” the statement quoted the governor as saying.
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The state government condemned the attacks on the governor at the prayer ground, claiming it was orchestrated by stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress.
“Members of the public will recall an earlier security alert on an evil plot to destabilise the peace and stability of Osun state.
“The government particularly notes with shock and surprise the role played by former Senator Ajibola Basiru 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 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,” the government said.