The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state government of fueling tension in Igbajo following the death of Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun, the embattled Owa of Igbajoland. The monarch passed away on Friday, and the APC alleged that the government’s actions are disrupting the traditional burial rites.

According to the APC, the state government’s declaration of a 24-hour curfew in Igbajo is ill-timed and disruptive to the ongoing rites, which commenced on Sunday. The party’s chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, stated that the government’s actions demonstrate a “pathological hatred” for the deceased monarch, even in death. The APC criticized the government’s handling of the situation, citing past communal clashes in the state where administrative lapses contributed to tensions.

The party noted that Oba Famodun’s installation was nullified by an executive action in November 2022 but was later reinstated by the High Court of Osun State on January 31, 2025. The APC argued that the monarch should be granted his traditional burial rites, as he was the rightful Owa of Igbajo at the time of his death.

In response, the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the APC of attempting to shift blame for its alleged neglect of the late monarch during his illness. The PDP stated that the curfew was imposed based on security reports indicating an imminent breakdown of law and order in Igbajo. The party claimed that security agencies had reported attempts by alleged APC supporters to disrupt peace in the town, prompting the decision to impose restrictions.

The PDP urged the Inspector-General of Police and the public to disregard the APC’s “misleading claims,” insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke acted within constitutional boundaries. The APC, on the other hand, called for an immediate reversal of the curfew and urged the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in the interest of peace.

The situation in Igbajo remains tense, with the APC and PDP engaging in a war of words over the handling of the monarch’s burial rites. The imposition of the curfew has raised concerns about the potential for further unrest in the town, and the situation is being closely monitored by security agencies. The Osun State government has reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order, while the APC has vowed to hold the government accountable for any crisis that may erupt in Igbajo.