Presidential hopeful and founder of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore was tear-gassed at the palace of the Ooni of Ife on Monday.
Sowore who was in company of a group #TakeItBack Movement as well as students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was tear-gassed as he was prostrating before the paramount ruler of Ife, Ooni, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II in an attack that was streamed live on Facebook.
According to palace sources, the presidential aspirant was attacked because he had initially refused to prostrate when the paramount ruler made his entrance – a taboo in the Yoruba kingdom which was met with instant death in pre-colonial times.
Sowore it was also gathered refused to prostrate before the Ooni because he had kept him waiting alongside his group the #TakeItBack Movement for about three hours.
As the situation within the palace deteriorated, Sowore rushed outside to check up on students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), who had accompanied him to the palace. He was in the process physically assaulted by thugs within the palace premises.
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As the situation continued to play out, one of the students who had accompanied Sowore as well as a member of the Royal Household collapsed due to respiratory challenges arising from the toxic fumes of the tear-gas.
Normalcy was eventually restored and Sowore laid his grievances before the Ooni regarding the incident wondering why a guest of the Ooni would be attacked within palace premises.
The Ooni however quickly condemned the attack saying such had never happened before while he called for calm and restraint on both sides.
The Ooni said the incident was regrettable and embarrassing as he assured Sowore of his continued support and collaboration.
Sowore hopes to defeat incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general elections on the platform of the African Action Congress, (AAC) which he founded specifically for the purpose.