There was commotion at the entrance to the country home of the first civilian governor of Osun state, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, on Monday, as some guests clashed with security operatives for barring them from attending the Fidau (prayer) of the late lawmaker.
It was a tug-of-war between dignitaries and heavily armed security operatives manning the different entrance into the canopy, where the prayer was being said for the repose of the soul of the two-time lawmaker, before some of them were allowed in.
At the main gate leading to the deceased’s home in Ede, Osun State, stern-looking security operatives used tasers to scare away guests, including Islamic clerics, politicians and sympathisers from Ede land.
The frustrated guests made frantic efforts to force themselves into the venue by pushing the gates, but some security operatives threw them out and shut the gate against them.
Our correspondent observed some of the affected guests engaged in fisticuffs with a security operatives as they they were been dragged out of the venue of the prayers. A security man flogged a guest, who attempted to move into the venue with the entourage of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuf.
Journalists were also not spared in the melee as some of them were harassed before they were allowed in after entreaties by some notable political associates of the deceased lawmaker.
Even workers in the state under the umbrella of Nigeria Labour Congress, who had cancelled their Worker’s Day rally in honour of Adeleke, were turned back when they got to the gate leading to the venue of the prayer session.
There was heavy presence of security operatives while Armoured Personnel Carriers were stationed at strategic locations leading to the late Adeleke’s residence.
Some of the dignitaries, who were allowed into the prayer venue were the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Mrs Laoye Tomori; the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuf, among others.
