Fracas at Osogbo Eid ground: APC, Adeleke trade words

 The All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the alleged assassination attempt on Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State as executive rasacatiy.

The party’s position is in reaction to the incident at the Eid prayer ground, Oke-Baale, Osogbo on Wednesday.

In a statement by the party Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal and made available by the Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, he described the scenario as one orchestrated by Adeleke and his political hoodlums.

Earlier on Wednesday at the Eid prayer ground, there was confusion over the sitting arrangements protocol, leading to allegations of attempted assassination on the life of the governor.

According to the party, “It was an attempt to forcefully remove Alhaji Badmus and Senator Bashiru from their seats at the praying ground and subsequent executive order by Governor Adeleke who hails from Ede, to the police to effect the arrest of the duo, prominent sons of Osogbo, which degenerated into the confusion that engulfed the scene.

“It was also gathered that the governor who left the scene before the beginning of the Eid-El-Kabir prayers session issued an order to close the gate of the entrance of the praying ground in order to effect the arrest of Alhaji Badmus and Bashiru.

“The indigenes of Osogbo who saw no reason for the arrest resisted the development which resulted into the ensuing rancorous scene.

“It was also gathered that Governor Adeleke did not even alight from his official vehicle throughout the duration of the crisis which makes nonsense of those who are reporting an assassination attempt on the governor.”

Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has called for calm through a statement from his Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

Thanking God for preserving him and his team, Adeleke also directed the state Commissioner of Police and law enforcement agents to arrest the culprits behind the incident.

“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 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.”