Gov Adeleke alleges Osogbo monarch was attacked in palace, blames ‘APC thugs’

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has alleged that Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Larooye II, the Ataoja of Osogbo, came under gunfire during an attack on his palace by individuals he described as ‘APC thugs’.

In a statement shared on Sunday, Adeleke claimed the attackers were sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, the monarch became a target after publicly endorsing his bid for a second term, a move he said angered leaders of the opposition party in the state.

“The Ataoja of Osogbo, one of Nigeria’s most revered royal fathers, said he was shot at by APC thugs inside his own palace. His subjects were hit by live bullets. Kabiyesi himself was the target,” Adeleke wrote on X.

The governor added, “Why? Because he stood with his people. Because he chose good governance over thuggery. And yet Kabiyesi stood tall and declared: ‘Osogbo will stand for Imole’.”

Adeleke also called on APC National Secretary Ajibola Bashiru, whom he described as a son of Osogbo, to address the incident.

“Osun APC has gone too far — and I am directly challenging the National Secretary of the APC, a son of Osogbo, to call his party members to order,” he said.

“Why did they send thugs to your father’s palace? Why did they desecrate the throne that raised you?

“Your party did this. Your royal father was the target. Your Osogbo is bleeding. Silence is a choice. Make yours wisely.”

The governor maintained that any attack on the Ataoja amounts to an attack on the entire Osogbo community, urging the Inspector-General of Police to intervene.

“Enough is enough. I call on the Inspector-General of Police to act urgently. Desperate politicians must be exposed and disgraced,” he said.

monarch recounts attack

In a video attached to Adeleke’s post, the Ataoja narrated how he survived the violence that recently affected Osogbo and Ede.

The monarch spoke on Saturday during an event organised by the Ajegunle Tradesmen and Artisans Group, where he endorsed Adeleke for another term in office.

He disclosed that the incident happened on the same day his son, who heads a political party in Osun, was shot by gunmen.

“On that day, some gunmen shot my son, who is the head of a political party in Osun. They also attacked me in the palace that same day. But I survived the attack,” the monarch said.

“As I speak to you, with the consent of my governor and our leaders, the culprit is now in remand in Ilesa. Since then, I have not stopped praying. We shall continue to manage the issues.”

The royal father appealed to political actors in the state to settle their differences through democratic means rather than violence.

rising political tension

The development comes amid escalating political rivalry between Adeleke’s camp and the APC ahead of the next governorship election in Osun State.

On June 4, Asimiyu Ajibola, chairman of the Accord Party in Osun, survived what was described as an assassination attempt after being shot by gunmen in Osogbo.

Days later, the party’s campaign council accused Adeleke of deploying Amotekun operatives to protect a family-owned business in Ondo State.

In response, the governor accused opposition figures of sponsoring political thugs to carry out coordinated attacks across parts of Osun and called on security agencies to take action.