Osun APC leaders demand investigation into Ataoja’s alleged attempted assassination claim

The alleged attempt on the life of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, has prompted demands for a formal investigation and has heightened political tensions in Osun State.

During an endorsement event organized by Ajegunle traders and artisans for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re‑election campaign in Osogbo, the monarch recounted that gunmen entered his palace and fired at him. He said some of his aides were wounded and that the attack was an act of “political bitterness.”

Despite the incident, the Ataoja affirmed that it would not deter him from supporting Governor Adeleke’s bid for a second term and called for an end to political violence in the state. “My palace was attacked. I was obviously the target, all because of our support for Governor Adeleke’s re‑election. This is political bitterness taken too far. Law enforcement agencies were already taking action on the matter,” he said.

He urged residents to reject violence and to express their political preferences through the ballot box, and he appealed to security agencies to strengthen protection across the state. He also expressed support for both Governor Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu.

In response, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called on the police to investigate the alleged assassination attempt and to establish the facts surrounding the incident. The party said the allegation was grave and required urgent attention to reassure residents and protect the state’s image.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC noted that questions remained about whether the incident had been reported to the police, the identities of those allegedly injured, and the medical facilities where they were treated. “It is necessary for the police to expedite action on the investigation of this allegation in order to clear some knotty issues surrounding it. We urge members of the public with relevant information to assist security agencies,” the statement read.

Leaders of the APC in Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas also demanded a comprehensive investigation, saying the circumstances surrounding the claim required clarification. They called on the National Security Adviser, the Inspector‑General of Police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to investigate the matter.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, former Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Akintunde Adegboye said the Ataoja had not directly accused any political party of involvement and questioned why Governor Adeleke had allegedly linked the matter to opposition elements before investigations were concluded. “We expected that His Royal Majesty, the Ataoja of Osogbo, should rise above partisanship and be a father to all irrespective of political affiliation,” Adegboye said.

He also criticized the governor’s response to the incident and described recent developments as evidence of lapses in the state’s security management.