By Charles Akinbode
Chaotic atmosphere at the Osogbo Eid-el-Mubarak prayer session on Wednesday reportedly forced the Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to leave the venue in anger.
The chaos was as a result of inability of the governor’s protocol and the security team to secure a front seat for him at the prayer ground located at Oke-Baale area in Osogbo.
Adeleke and Basiru
It was gathered that some prominent indigenes of Osogbo, including the former lawmaker representing Osun Central Senatorial District and immediate past spokesperson for the Senate, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, were already seated in the front space before the arrival of the governor and his entourage.
It was further gathered that Basiru moved aside when asked by the governor’s men but when they insisted he must vacate the front space he resisted.
Some Muslim leaders, including Asiwaju Tunde Badmus, at the event were said to have intervened to douse the tension so that the Eid-el-Mubarak prayer could be kick-started but it was to no avail.
The governor, who was throughout seated in his official car while the argument lasted, had to leave in anger and could not join the prayer.
According to an eye witness account: “When the governor came with his team, Senator Ajibola Basiru, who was already seated was asked by the governor’s men to leave his front space. He moved aside but refused to move to the back.
“Some Muslim leaders at the scene appealed to the governor not to leave. They also tried to ask Basiru to move to the space at the back but he refused.
“After this, Governor Adeleke and his entourage went away in anger and wouldn’t stay for the prayer. The prayer started. shortly after the noise and confusion were over.”
Meanwhile, the governor’s media aide, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, who spoke briefly with journalists, said: “the governor escaped assassination attempt.”
He promised to give details about the incident later.
