Osogbo Central Eid A lot has been heard and said about the political power play that occurred at the Muslim Central Eid, Osogbo, the Osun State capital between the Executive Governor of the State, Ademola Adeleke, and a former member of the National Assembly and immediate past spokesman of the 9th Assembly, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola who represented Osun Central Senatorial District in the 9th Assembly.
The Round Table has gathered necessary versions of what happened at the prayer ground, and it could be adjudged as both a result of administrative incompetence, and elitist internal wrangling.
Let us go through submissions from different players involved in the crisis.
Governor Adeleke's Side of the Story
According to some key members of Governor Ademola Adeleke's convoy to the prayer ground, the Governor arrived at the prayer ground unannounced. On arrival of the Governor, the member of the House of Representatives representing Osogbo/ Olorunda/ Ireposun/ Orolu Federal Constituency, Hon. Adewale Maruf was the first to approach Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir who was already seated in the front row of the Eid amidst the delegation that followed the Asiwaju (Leader) of all Muslims in all the Yoruba Speaking States comprising the six states in the South-West and Kogi, Edo and Delta States regions that speak Yoruba language, Alhaji Khamis Odekilekun Badmus. However, Senator Ajibola Bashir warned Hon Maruf to stay off which he obliged.
Then, some Osogbo Indigenes who are members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) attempted to remove Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir from where he sat because he was sitting in the position meant for Governor Ademola Adeleke to sit but he resisted. The governor who has already alighted his vehicle to take a seat, angrily went back to the vehicle before he was appealed to by some Osogbo indigenes who are PDP leaders.
The Governor came down again with an attempt to take a sit but because Senator Ajibola Bashir was still sitting at the position reserved for him, he angrily went back to his official vehicle and zoomed off the mosque without observing the mandatory two Rakat prayers with the Muslim faithful.
Thereafter, the gate of the Central Eid was locked on the order of the State Commissioner of Police to maintain peace, PDP sources revealed stories related to this report.
Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir's Side of the Story
Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir arrived at the Osogbo Central Eid in the company of the Asiwaju Musulumi (Muslim Leader) for South West and other Yoruba Speaking States including Edo, Delta, and Kogi States, Alhaji Khamis Odekilekun Badmus.
They already had their seats in the front row, and there was no signal that Governor Ademola Adeleke was coming to the praying ground. Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir was sitting beside
Some PDP leaders approached Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir to vacate the front row because the Governor and his envoy are to occupy the front row, but the Senator resisted their order. Then, some of the PDP leaders attempted to forcefully remove the Senator from his seat but the attempt was rebuffed by the overwhelming presence of the loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Eid.
The Governor who attempted twice with the support of his security details to unseat Senator Ajibola Bashir and failed later became angry and left the Eid without performing the two Rakat mandatory prayers with the Muslim faithful in the state capital.
After he angrily left the mosque, Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered the State Commissioner of Police to order his officers who were present at the mosque to lock the entrance gate and ensure Senator Ajibola Bashir was arrested. They followed the instruction from the Governor and the gate was locked and no one was allowed to leave or gain entrance to the mosque. However, the gate was later opened by the policemen after receiving another order from above the status of the State Commissioner.
After this scenario at the mosque, Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered the State Commissioner of Police to summon Senator Ajibola Bashir to his office and detain him. Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir was summoned to the Office of the Commissioner of Police but was not detained because of the intervention of powerful intervention from above.
More to the Story
The dramatic scene that occurred at the mosque had two phases; one was between Governor Ademola Adeleke's men who would not want Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir to occupy anywhere at the front row because his party, APC, not in power in the state. The second phase was internal wrangling between the Asiwaju Musulumi (Muslim Leader) for the South West and other Yoruba Speaking States including Edo, Delta, and Kogi States, Alhaji Khamis Odekilekun Badmus, and some Osogbo Indigenes who are very close to the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo town, who were led to the Eid by the Asiwaju of Osogbo, Alhaji Ajadi Badmus.
The two leadership versions in the town were initially at loggerheads as Asiwaju Musulumi claimed that the front row was not a necessity for Asiwaju of Osogbo Sons and Daughters because it was a religious place and not a traditional place.
Observations
Considering the three phases of the submissions, it is easier to agree with the observation that the dramatic scene that occurred at the Osogbo Central Eid was a result of the incompetence of the Governor's Monitoring Team (GMT) ought to have been at any venue that Governor will attend, at least 30 minutes in advance before the arrival of the Governor.
The GMT inspects and secures the seat of the Governor at least 30 minutes before the arrival of the Governor, and maintains the security architecture till he leaves the venue. So, sincerely the GMT was not on the ground to secure a seat for the Governor, it is the responsibility of the Governor to sit anywhere.
Besides, the Ataoja of Osogbo will have much to do to reconcile the sons and daughters of Osogbo, mostly those who are leaders of the town. The King may need to be apolitical and resolute in the course of reuniting the sons and daughters of the town. There is a deep perception of a rift among the leaders of the town.
Category: World-News
Tag: Adeleke Senator SRJ ajibola bashir fight at Osogbo Central Eid
Written by Omooba Alekuwodo (omoobaalekuwodo)
Published 6/30/2023 10:37:50 PM