Security operatives on Wednesday whisked away Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke from the Eid prayer ground located at Oke-Baale area in Osogbo following threats to his life.
This happened after a clash between the governor and Senator Ajibola Basiru.
It was gathered that Basiru, the immediate past spokesperson for the Senate, arrived at the prayer ground and allegedly sat at the spot reserved for the governor.
When Adeleke arrived, efforts were allegedly made for the federal lawmaker to leave the space reserved for the governor but this yielded no result.
The governor was said to have left the ground without performing the Eid-el Kabir Two Raka’a and headed to his country home.
Adeleke’s spokesman Olawale Rasheed, in a statement, quoted the governor as appealing for calm.
“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 governor said.
The government called out Basiru in the statement, saying: “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.
“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.”
