Police Prevent Oyo Deputy Gov, Commissioners From Attending Ajimobi’s 8th Day Fidau

Policemen and members of other security agencies on Sunday prevented the delegation from the Oyo State government from entering the Oluyole residence of late former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, venue of the 8th day Fidau prayer for the deceased.

The delegation that was led by Oyo State deputy governor, Engr. Raufu Olaniyan, Barristers Abiodun Abdul-Raheem and Seun Ashamu, commissioners for land and energy respectively, were turned back at the venue.

According to The Nation, the Oyo State Deputy Governor who arrived the residence at about 11:20 am in a convoy of five vehicles was stopped by policemen who insisted that only Olaniyan’s vehicle could be allowed into the street to join the prayer.

The further report revealed that the security details of the deputy governor initially rebuffed the idea but when their argument got heated, a senior policeman intervened and they agreed that only the deputy governor’s vehicle should go in.

The Deputy Governor on getting to the gate noted that it was locked and he was told that the key was with Mrs Ajimobi, the Deputy governor waited at the gate believing that the issue would be sorted.

Olaniyan having waited for 15 minutes at the gate with no development left the venue of the Fidua prayer for the deceased.

The spokesperson for the former governor of the state, Bolaji Tunji, noted that they were not informed that the deputy governor was coming.

Tunji in a statement released on behalf of the Ajimobi family said, “There is the need to clarify the believed presence of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan at the 8th-day prayer of HE Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the immediate past Governor of Oyo State.”

“1. The Deputy Governor arrived after the prayer had started. The event was strictly a family affair.”

“2. There was a need to comply with the Covid-19 protocol as established by NCDC- Social distancing, not more than 30 people in a place and seats arranged, accordingly. After which the gate was shut.”

“3. No one was aware that the Deputy Governor was coming as neither the advance team nor the protocol informed us.”

“4. By the time we got to the gate to usher him into the sitting room, he had left. Everything happened within a spate of 10mins.”

“5. Through a serving Senator and a former Attorney General, we tried to get in touch with him that it was not to slight him and he could sit in a private sitting room provided by the family. Unfortunately, he had left. We, however, apologise to his Excellency.”

“Thank you.”