The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Laaroye II, has disclosed that armed men broke into his palace and opened fire in what he described as a targeted assassination attempt linked to his public support for the re-election of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying his aides were shot and wounded in the attack and that those responsible were connected to a broader wave of political violence that had struck Osogbo and Ede around the same period.
The royal father made the disclosure at an endorsement event for the governor organized by the Ajegunle tradesmen and artisans’ group, saying the attack would not change his position or that of Osogbo residents regarding Adeleke, whom he praised as a governor who had delivered on his commitments to the people and deserved a second term based on his record.
He described the level of political violence as an extreme expression of political bitterness that crossed every acceptable line, and called on security agencies to intensify their operations across Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election. He said law enforcement action was already underway on the matter and urged all parties to channel their energies into the electoral process rather than violence.
Adeleke, responding to the endorsement which was adopted unanimously by members of the tradesmen’s association, pledged not to let them down and called for maximum mobilization ahead of the poll. A representative of musician Davido donated N80 million on behalf of the global star and herself at the event, while the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry urged the association to replicate their previous electoral support for the governor on August 15.
