Tension has gripped Ile-Ife, Osun State, following the killing of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as “Emir Ajagungbade,” who was shot dead on Sunday during a violent dispute over the control of a motor park in the Mayfair area.
In a reaction to the assassination, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered the State Commissioner of Police to track down and arrest all perpetrators, declaring that there would be “no sacred cows”.
To prevent further escalation between rival factions, the state government mandated all groups to vacate motor parks immediately and announced plans to issue an Executive Order establishing a centralized Park Management System to maintain law and order.
The late Oyeyemi maintained a close political and operational relationship with Governor Adeleke, serving as a key grassroots lieutenant and an official appointee within the state’s transport management structure.
Known for his influence among local transport unions and youth networks in major urban centers such as Osogbo and Ife, Emir was often central to the administration’s territorial grip on the state’s commercial transit hubs.
Despite past legal controversies and allegations surrounding political violence, he remained an indispensable figure within the governor’s immediate political circle.
During the recent Osun State gubernatorial election, Emir Ajagungbade played a significant role in securing Governor Adeleke’s victory. He acted as a primary ground organizer, mobilizing voters across key local government areas, safeguarding campaign logistics, and securing vital transit corridors against opposition interference.
His strategic enforcement on the ground proved instrumental in driving turnout and protecting the governor’s voting base, leading to Adeleke’s successful re-election. His sudden death leaves a major vacuum in the leadership of Osun State’s transport unions and grassroots political network.
