There was uproar at Osogbo Eid prayer ground on Wednesday when Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke and ex-senate spokesperson Ajibola Basiru clashed over sitting arrangement.
The Nation observed Basiru arrived the Eid praying ground located at Oke-Baale around 9:35am with Muslim and community leaders in a car belonging to the Asiwaju of Muslim in Yoruba Land Chief Badmus for Turakat congregational prayer.
Basiru sat on the front row of the ground with other leaders but a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Muniru Raji confronted the ex-lawmaker he was sitting on a seat reserved for Governor Adeleke.
Though Basiru moved from the seat to the extreme edge of the front row, the chieftain objected and ordered that Basiru should move to the second row, which he refused.
Chief Badmus was outside the Eid prayer ground to welcome Adeleke while the alteration was ongoing.
When the Governor arrived at the front row, he witnessed the altercation and returned to his car for a few minutes.
He returned to notice the rumpus was yet.to die down and left without observing Turakat prayer. However, Basiru observed the prayer.
After Adeleke left, security operatives shut the gate of the praying ground. They claimed they had the directive of the Governor to arrest Basiru.
Chief Badmus however intervened before the gate was reopened, making Basiru to leave with community leaders.
Reacting to the incident, Basiru explained there was no indication any seat was reserved for the Governor, claiming he didn’t see Adeleke or his protocol team.
According to him: “Muniru Raji insulted me and in the process worshippers surrounded me to prevent him from assaulting me at the praying ground. I don’t know whether the Governor came to the the Eid at all because I was surrounded by people. I later stood up and did my prayers.
“After the prayer one of the security, the policemen said the Commissioner of Police wanted to see me and I told him that I will see him together with the Muslim community leaders that I went with in same vehicle.
“But they insisted that they must pull me out of the car which we all resisted. We queried if they had any warrant of arrest. We explained the situation to them, that it was some overzealous supporters of the Governor that caused the embarrassing situation.
“I don’t have problem with the Governor of Osun State and there were no indications that where I sat was reserved for the Governor. But overzealous supporter caused it maybe they have personal issues to grind with me but the people in the mosques resisted the attempt to embarrass me.”
But Adeleke alleged that the incident was attempted assassination by thugs of All Progressives Congress(APC).
Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed appealed for calm saying he has directed immediate arrest of those involved in the scenario of the event at Osogbo Eid.
He said “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 State Government had meanwhile condemned the orchestrated attacks on the Governor by stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress at the praying ground. Members of the public will recall an earlier security alert on an evil plot to destabilize the peace and stability of Osun state.
“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.”
He alleged “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. The Governor is now safely at home receiving guests and leaders from all walks of life.”
Raji said: “It has been Jibola’s (Basiru) plan to disrupt Eid prayer. He once did similar thing for Tuns (Dr Tunde Badmus) when he was a Commissioner. The sitting arrangement that we adopt at Eid praying ground has been on in the last 40 years and I am in charge of it. We have two sections. There is a section where government’s leaders will seat, while the second section is usually occupied by the religious and community leaders.
“The Governor will usually seat to the right of Ataoja of Osogbo, then Asiwaju Musulumi will seat next to him and other important personalities in Osogbo will seat with them.”
APC, in a statement by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, alleged that PDP thugs in company of security operatives caused the crisis at Eid prayer ground.
PDP in a statement by its chairman, Sunday Bisi berated APC cautioning Senator Ajibola Basiru to watch his conducts.
