My Son Was Shot With Gun Laced With Charm – Mother Of PDP Stalwart Killed In Ejigbo
MRS Abigail Idowu, the mother of Richard Idowu, popularly known as Ade-Oriokin, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was shot dead last Saturday in Ejigbo, Osun State, has revealed how she warned her son from joining politics.
The grieving mother stated that her late son was shot with a gun that had been laced with charm.
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the young politician was shot after a meeting at a private residence of Prince Eniola Oyeyode, a son of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode, who was marking his 50th anniversary on the throne.
The incident, which occurred between 8:00 and 8:30pm last Saturday, immediately threw the community into mourning and led to tension among the residents.
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that Idowu was also part of the coronation anniversary, from where he was summoned to a meeting by Oyeyode at his residence located along Inisa Road in Ejigbo.
According to an eyewitness who preferred anonymity, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ayodele Asalu, and one other person identified as Mr. Timothy were also part of the meeting.
Narrating how the incident happened, a Personal Assistant to the deceased, Afiz Lawal, who said the incident happened in his presence, explained: “Immediately after the coronation party, we were about to start coming to Osogbo when Prince Eniola, son of Ogiyan, told us to go to his house along Inisa road in Ejigbo for a brief meeting. Those who attended the meeting included Hon. Asler (Ayodele Asalu) and one Hon Timothy.
“When the meeting ended, they all dispersed and were entering their vehicles. I heard Prince Eniola saying, release, asking a local hunter there on the premises to release gunshots into the air. Unfortunately, instead of firing into the air, he shot towards the ground. And that was how Hon Richard Idowu was hit on the leg, and he immediately fell.
“Before we could get him to the hospital, he had already lost so much blood and there is no good hospital in Ejigbo. He gave up at a private hospital in Ejigbo. The incident happened between 8:00 and 8:30pm on Saturday. He was a PDP chieftain and a lecturer based in the United States of America.”
Asked if the incident could be regarded as a case of misfiring, Lawal further said, “It may be planned or accidental, but I just narrated how the incident happened because I was at the scene. His remains have been deposited at the morgue of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.”
Reacting to the loss of her son, Mrs Idowu stated that the death was not ordinary, calling on the government to get to the root of the matter.
The bereaved mother who spoke in a four minutes video obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said he has always discouraged the son from joining politics.
“I have earlier warned him from going into politics, and I encouraged him to be a philanthropist. I was totally against his political moves.
“I was in Lagos when the news came to me on Saturday, his elder sister came to break the news that Richard has been shot at a meeting he attended. I was shocked and asked what he did wrong.
“We left the city to Osun. When we get to Osogbo, we were told he has been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital that his remains would be deposited at the morgue.
“But I told them not to take him to the mortuary because he was shot in the leg. I got to know that it was not an ordinary gun that was shot at him. It has been laced with charm.
“He fell on the ground immediately and only spoke two words according to those with him. He only shout “My leg, My leg” and he was rushed to the hospitals. He didn’t tell me anything before he died.
“I have never witnessed such incident in my life. I was also born in that town and gave birth to him there as well. His father is battling with stroke for the past eight years and he goes to the hospital for treatment twice in a week. Richard is the one footing the bill.
“I urge Nigerians to help us by unraveling the misery behind his death. The government should also investigate the matter and get to its root.”
However, Oyeyode, the convener of the meeting has been arrested by the police.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
