We prevented Oyo state delegation to ajimobi’s 8th day‘firdau’ prayers in line with coronavirus guidelines, says family
The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, on Sunday got the shock of his life, as he was prevented from entering the venue of eighth day Islamic ‘Firdau’ prayer for the immediate past Governor of the State, Abiola Ajimobi, as the deceased family claimed that, the action was taken, in line with coronavirus guidelines, in view of the fact that, the government entourage came late
Penpushing reports that, the deceased family and the Governor Seyi Makinde administration had been at logger head following the sickness and death of the former governor, with the Ajimobis accusing the government of being inhuman to them
The Oyo State government led by the Deputy Governor, including Commissioner for Land Abiodun Abdul-Raheem and his energy counterpart, Seun Ashamu, could not believe their eyes, as they were turned back from entering the venue of the prayer at the Oluyole residence of the late Ajimobi in Ibadan.
Penushing further reports that, the entourage was resisted by the security details attached to the venue resisted, while efforts by the government delegation to enter the venue almost led to open confrontation with security details attached to the Deputy Governor.
The Deputy Governor following the ugly development left the venue in company of the two commissioners after making frantic calls to people believed to be close to the family, while in his response, the deceased’s spokesman, Bolaji Tunji, however, said that the prayer was a family affair.
Penpushing also reports that, late Ajimobi’s imagemaker in a statement made available to journalists, on Sunday, said the Deputy Governor got to the venue after the prayer had started, stressing that the family was not aware he was coming to the prayer.
“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. The Deputy Governor arrived after the prayer had started. The event was strictly a family affair’.
“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’, he explained.
“No one was aware that the Deputy Governor was coming as neither the advance team nor the protocol informed us. 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’.
“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.”
Penpushing recalled that Ajimobi who was the Governor of the State for eight years under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) died from coronavirus complications and was buried last Sunday in Ibadan, the state capital.
