The mother of Richard Idowu, popularly known as Ade-Oriokin, a United States of America- based lecturer who was shot dead recently in Ejigbo, Osun State, Mrs. Abigail Idowu, has alleged that the gun used in shooting her son was laced with charm.
The grieving mother said she had warned her son from joining politics.
The deceased was a stalwart of the People’s Democratic Party in the state.
The politician was shot after a meeting at a private residence of Prince Eniola Oyeyode, a son of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode, who was marking his 50th anniversary on the throne.
The incident, which occurred between 8:00 and 8:30pm penultimate Saturday, immediately threw the community into mourning and led to tension among the residents.
It was learnt that Idowu was also part of the coronation anniversary, from where he was summoned to a meeting by Oyeyode at his residence located along Inisa Road in Ejigbo.
According to a witness who preferred anonymity, a member of the All Progressives Congress, Ayodele Asalu, and one other person identified as Mr. Timothy were also part of the meeting.
Narrating how the incident happened, a Personal Assistant to the deceased, Afiz Lawal, who said the incident happened in his presence, explained that the monarch’s son asked the local guards to shoot when Idowu was about leaving the residence.
Reacting to the loss of her son, Mrs Idowu explained that the death was not ordinary, calling on the government to get to the root of the matter.
The bereaved mother who spoke in a four- minute video obtained by The Point said he has always discouraged her son from joining politics.
“I have earlier warned him from going into politics, and I encouraged him to be a philanthropist. I was totally against his political moves.
“I was in Lagos when the news came to me on Saturday, his elder sister came to break the news that Richard had been shot at a meeting he attended. I was shocked and asked what he did wrong.
“We left the city for Osun. When we got to Osogbo, we were told he had been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital and that his remains would be deposited at the morgue.
“But I told them not to take him to the mortuary because he was shot in the leg. I got to know that it was not an ordinary gun that was shot at him. It has been laced with charm.
“He fell on the ground immediately and only spoke two words according to those with him. He only shouted “My leg, My leg” and he was rushed to the hospital. He didn’t tell me anything before he died.
“I have never witnessed such an incident in my life. I was also born in that town and gave birth to him there as well. His father has been battling a stroke for the past eight years and he goes to the hospital for treatment twice a week. Richard is the one footing the bill.
“I urge Nigerians to help us by unraveling the misery behind his death. The government should also investigate the matter and get to its root.”
However, Oyeyode, the convener of the meeting has been arrested by the police.
