The Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Dr Khamis Olatunde Badmus, has described the alleged assassination attempt on Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Osogbo Eid praying ground on Wednesday by thugs suspected to have been employed by the opposition party in the state as outrageous.
According to the cleric, the incident that the Osun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party described as an assassination attempt on the governor’s life was an “avoidable and unfortunate” occurrence.
It was reported that the sitting arrangement at the Osogbo Eid praying ground on Wednesday led to a clash between some aides of Governor Adeleke and an ex-spokesperson of the Senate, Dr Ajibola Basiru.
Basiru had arrived at the praying ground alongside some prominent Osogbo indigenes for the Eid-el Kabir prayers and while waiting for the prayers to commence, it was learned that some people believed to be the governor’s aides informed him he was occupying the spot reserved for Adeleke and was asked to move to the second row.
The instruction led to a heated argument which almost turned into a free for all fight but for the intervention of some peacemakers who came to the rescue.
However, upon arrival, Governor Adeleke could not stay to observe the Eid prayers as a result of heavily mobilized thugs who had taken over strategic locations at the praying ground “in a bid to launch an assassination attack on the innocent governor, whose sole mission was to worship alongside other Muslim faithful in the state capital to commemorate 2023 Eid-el Kabir,” a statement by the Osun State PDP claimed.
In a statement issued from his media office in Osogbo on Wednesday, Badmus apologized to the governor, blaming some political jobbers in the town for orchestrating the misunderstanding which ensued.
The statement read,
“The incident was both avoidable and unfortunate.
“It was outrageous to say there was an assassination attempt on the Governor’s life.
“Since campaigns are over and governance proper has commenced, the governor should be left alone to concentrate on administration and impactful service delivery to the people.”
The statement further commended the Osun State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies for handling the matter with utmost maturity and professionalism.
“I commend the State Commissioner of Police, State Director of DSS, and the Special Adviser on Security to the State Governor for their mature handling of the matter.”
He advised the governor’s protocol office to always be on top of their game in securing the governor’s seat at events to forestall a repeat of Wednesday’s incident.
“It is important for the office of the protocol of the governor to take charge of the governor’s sitting arrangement at events rather than leaving such delicate assignment in the hands of favour-seeking politicians,” Badmus cautioned.