The fallout of the recent attack on Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos and other traditional rulers by some alleged political aides of Mr. Adams Oshiomhole at his country home in Iyamoh, Edo State, has taken a toll on the ex-governor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It will be recall that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State along with HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba Otudeko, a renowned businessman and philanthropist, Otunba Dr. Alex Onabanjo and the newly installed Chancellor of Edo University, Iyamoh, Dr. Aderemi Makonjuola and his wife were viciously attacked on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at the residence of Oshiomhole, right opposite the university.
The hoodlums who were sighted in a viral video, were organised by relatives of the APC national chairman, also attacked and destroyed some vehicles that conveyed chiefs and emissaries of Oba Akiolu.
Since the ugly event, strategic stakeholders have condemned the incident as sacrilege, even as Oshiomhole attempted to blame the ‘triumphant’ arrival of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shiabu to the university earlier that day, for the action of thugs he (Oshiomhole) invited to keep vigil at the gate of his house.
The Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere called the attack a sacrilege. Spokesman of the very audacious body, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said emphatically that, “it is a sacrilege that political thugs working for area fathers in politics would extend their gangsterism to the Oba of Lagos.”
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu also described the senseless attack as sacrilegious. The governor who spoke through his Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Bayo Osiyemi said that:
“The attack on any monarch is a sacrilege for which the perpetrators must seek divine forgiveness.
“The attack on the premier Oba of Lagos State somewhere in Edo State is uncalled for and whoever sponsored the attackers must do a quick rethink and desist from such untoward behaviour.”
The weight of the criticism may have become too heavy for Oshiomhole to bear and has decided to make rapprochement with those that honoured his invitation for ‘lunch’, only to be viciously attacked in his resident.
A close source to the embattled APC National Chairman, confided in Midwest Herald that Oshiomhole has gone to beg the Oba of Lagos for forgiveness. The source added that, pressure is mounting on him from all angles to call off the fight with Mr. Godwin Obaseki because of the negative development it has attracted to the party.
Midwest Herald’s investigation gives credence to the information from Oshiomhole’s stable and the reason for his latest ‘diplomatic shuttle.’ This paper learnt that, the Oba of Lagos had accompanied the Chancellor, Dr. Makonjuola to the convocation because the businessman and chairman of Caverton Hilicopters was his nominee for the post at the ivory tower.
The other dignitaries that also received doses of attack are very endemic in the politics of South West of Nigeria, where Senator Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu hold sway.
Oba Otudeko for instance, is the founder and chairman of Honeywell Group, with vast interest in the political happenings in Nigeria and across the South West in particular.
Also, Mr. Kekere Ekun is a long-time apostle of Tinubu and also the husband of Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo, a Nigerian jurist and Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Midwest Herald was told that these influential Nigerians have all singly and jointly made reports to the ‘approprate quarters.’
Further checks shows that Oshiomhole may have been invited by President Mohammedu Buhari to respond to the legions of complaints that have been made against him.
It is not however clear when Oshiomhole will embark on the trip to London. Midwest Herald is keeping tap on the development and will inform our readers adequately.
Oshiomhole is said to have expressed dissatisfaction with his handlers over the unprofessional manner they discharged the instructions he left at his gate.