A former
special adviser to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Federal Matters and a
nominee for commissionership, Idia
Babalola, escaped death by a whisker when
a mob of youths attacked her at the
funeral of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke which was held on Monday at Ede,
Osun State.
According to
eyewitnesses, everywhere was calm during prayer session held ahead of interment
until Mrs. Babalola appeared at the venue. The youths became angry on sighting
her because they considered her to be a ‘traitor,’ an eyewitness said.
They wanted
the woman to leave immediately because there was a speculation she connived
with the opposition to get Adeleke out of the way through food poison, the
eyewitness told SaharaReporters.
But autopsy
has revealed that the deceased died as a result of overdose of painkiller
administered on him.
The first
civilian governor of Osun State and senator representing Ede West was in the
race again for the 2018 governorship election, but had failed to receive the
support of the current administration.
According to
a source from Abere, as reported by saharareporters,the government house of Osun State, Ogbeni Aregbe is said to be more favorably
disposed to his Chief of Staff Adegboyega Oyetola and his former Commissioner
for Special Duties and Regional Integration, Ajibola Bashiru.
And Mrs.
Babalola is closer to the governor’s caucus than to the late senator’s, despite
the fact that she was recommended by the
senator for the post of special adviser during Aregbesola’s first term.
“So seeing
her at the burial where most loyalists of the incumbent governor were absent
triggered anger in the supporters of the late senator,” the source said.
Governor
Rauf himself did not attend the burial because he is currently in China.
Despite all entreaties from dignitaries,
including Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun and his Ondo State counterpart,
Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu the youths insisted that Mrs. Babalola should leave. “In fact, they have started stoning her
before Amosun and others eventually sheltered and led her out of the premises.
Senator Adeleke died on Sunday and has been
buried on Monday, according to Islamic rites.
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