Eid-el-Kabir: Chaos averted in Osogbo over alleged assassination attempt on Adeleke

June 28, 2023

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Eid-el-Kabir: Chaos averted in Osogbo over alleged assassination attempt on Adeleke

Chaos was averted during the traditional Eid prayers at the Osogbo Eid praying ground on Wednesday.

According to information made available to DAILY POST, the stage was set for the prayers which was a traditional part which marks the beginning of the festival.

It was gathered that the Chief Imam leading the prayers would stay in the front, while other dignitaries would occupy the second row.

The second row is always reserved for the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the governor and other leading politicians and notable sons of Osogbo.

However, trouble started when Governor Ademola Adeleke arrived at the venue.

A media aide to the Governor, Sarafa Ibrahim alleged that thugs hired by former Senator Ajibola Basiru attacked Governor Adeleke at the Osogbo Eid prayer ground.

According to him, “They came with machetes and all sorts of weapons at the Eid prayer ground. The governor was not even in Osun as he was in Lagos to have a meeting with the United States Consular General.

“He came straight to the Osogbo Eid prayer ground and upon citing him, they just mobilised. They even attacked the House of Representatives member for Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency, Maruti Adewale Adebayo.

“It was obvious that they already planned the attacks. SRJ is playing with fire. What they just did is treasonous. For them to attempt to kill the leader of a state.

“Some of his boys were identified among the thugs. They came with weapons purposely to stop the governor from accessing the prayer ground.

“The governor was whisked away by his security aides and he left Immediately.”

However, an eyewitness to the incident, who craved anonymity debunked the attempted assassination, stating that it was just a disagreement between Governor Adeleke and Senator Basiru with regards to the sitting arrangements.

According to him, “The front row after the Imam at the Eid prayer ground in Osogbo is usually reserved for the dignitaries and they include, Senator Basiru, Ataoja of Osogbo land, Khamis Olatunde Badmus and the governor whenever he is around.

“It was gathered that when Governor Adeleke arrived, he directed that Senator Basiru should vacate his reserved position for him.

“SRJ insisted that he will not vacate his reserved position because they are at the Eid prayer ground which made the governor angrily storm out of the venue of the prayers.”

The eyewitness also revealed that security personnel were directed to arrest SRJ upon which the access gate to the Eid ground was shut.

“The Osogbo Indigenes at the Eid prayer ground rose up in protest that nobody would be arrested but the matter has been resolved.

“There was no attempted assassination on the life of Governor Ademola Adeleke,” he said.

Attempts to get the reaction of Senator Ajibola Basiru proved futile as phone calls to him went unanswered and messages sent to him were not responded to.