Oyo deputy gov barred from Ajimobi’s Fidau prayer, family says they were not informed he will attend

By our reporter|The deputy governor of Oyo state, Rauf Olaniyan, was on Sunday denied entry into the venue of Fidau prayer of late Abiola Ajimobi, a former governor of the state who recently died of coronavirus complications.

But the family of the late former governor, has, however, explained that the deputy governor did not inform them of his intention to attend the event which was strictly a family affair and conducted in line with COVID-19 protocols.

Fidau is a prayer for the deceased who was a Muslim till death.

According to various reports earlier on Sunday, Olaniyan who led a delegation to the eighth day prayer for the late governor was initially denied access to the compound but an argument, the vehicles were allowed to go in but when he stepped out of the car and walked towards the main residence, he found out that the gate was locked.

When efforts by his aides to convince those in the compound to open te gate failed, Olaniyan left after waiting for close to 20 minutes.

But the family of the late former governor has, however, explained that Rauf Olaniyan, deputy governor of the state, did not inform them of his intention to attend the Fidau prayer organised for Ajimobi.

In a statement issued on behalf of the family, Bolaji Tunji, media aide of the ex-governor, said the prayer was strictly a family affair and was done in line with COVID-19 protocol which is against large gatherings.

The satement read, “There is the need to clarify the believed presence of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan at the 8th day prayer of HE Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the immediate past Governor of Oyo State.”

“The Deputy Governor arrived after the prayer had started. The event was strictly a family affair. There was a need to comply with the Covid-19 protocol as established by NCDC- Social distancing, not more than 30 people in a place and seats arranged, accordingly. After which the gate was shut.

“No one was aware that the Deputy Governor was coming as neither the advance team nor the protocol inform us. By the time we got to the gate to usher him into the sitting room, he had left. Everything happened within a spate of 10 mins.

The widow of the former governor had at his burial accused the deputy governor and Seyi Makinde, the governor, of playing politics with her husband’s death, alleging that neither him nor the governor placed calls across to her when Ajimobi was sick.