Osun APC Accuses Government of Fuelling Tension After Monarch’s Death

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state government of inflaming tensions in Igbajo after the death of Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun, the embattled Owa of Igbajoland. The monarch died on Friday, and the APC claims that the government’s actions are disrupting the traditional burial rites. Specifically, the party says the state’s declaration of a 24‑hour curfew in Igbajo is ill‑timed and interferes with rites that began on Sunday. APC chairman Tajudeen Lawal described the curfew as evidence of a “pathological hatred” for the late monarch, even in death, and criticized the government’s handling of the situation, citing previous communal clashes in the state where administrative lapses heightened tensions.

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

In response, the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the APC of trying to shift blame for its alleged neglect of the late monarch during his illness. The PDP said the curfew was imposed based on security reports indicating an imminent breakdown of law and order in Igbajo, and that security agencies had reported attempts by alleged APC supporters to disrupt peace in the town. 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 has 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 exchanging accusations over the handling of the monarch’s burial rites. The curfew has raised concerns about the potential for further unrest, and security agencies are closely monitoring the town. 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.