By Charles Akinbode
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered arrest of those involved in the chaos that prevented him and his team from participating in this year’s Eid-el Mubarak prayer in Osogbo, the state capital.
The governor said he had directed the state Commissioner of Police to arrest those involved, no matter how highly placed.
Does2Leak Online reports that Adeleke and his entourage on Wednesday morning were forced to leave the prayer ground at Oke-Bale in anger after a sitting arrangement between the governor and immediate past spokesperson of the Senate, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, created a chaotic atmosphere.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor, who appealed for calm, maintained that the incident was an assassination attempt on his life.
Expressing gratitude to God for preserving his life and that of his team, Adeleke said he escaped through providence.
The statement reads: “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, which condemned the “orchestrated attacks” on the governor by stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state at the praying ground, recalled how the state government weeks ago had raised a security alert on “an evil plot to destabilise the peace and stability of the state.”
The statement further reads: “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.
“The People’s Democratic Party (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.”
According to the statement, the governor had arrived home safely and was receiving “guests and leaders from all walks of life.”
