Fish Out Attackers Of Gov Oyetola’s Convoy, APC Charges Security Agencies

By Rafiu Agboola, Osogbo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has called on security agencies in the state to fish out the hoodlums who shot at Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s convoy while on his way to Osu, a community in Ijesa land during a campaign rally.

The party also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of suspected thugs who disrupted, the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun state.

The party alleged that the hoodlums were being sponsored by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to unleash attacks on its members and supporters during the PVCs collection exercise, knowing that the majority of the people who came out for PVC collection in the area were for the APC.

Gov. Oyetola’s convoy was shot at by suspected thugs, alleged to be working for the opposition PDP on Tuesday, June 21, at Ikoyi Junction, Ilesa West, when the governor was on his way to Osu for campaign at about 6:00PM.

However, the suspected Political thugs, on Thursday, disrupted collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun state.

Narrating their ordeals in the hand of the hoodlums, an APC Chieftain who is the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye said that the party is being besieged by political thugs from the opposition party in Ilesha/Ijesa Axis of the state.

Omowaiye, who is an indigene of Ilesa, during a press conference at the party Secretariat in Ilesa on Friday, alleged the leading opposition party of running after their lives.

He said “it is sadden that we are pushed to do this but it is important we let the people know what is happening in Ilesha, and the people of Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East to know that the PDP in their usual characteristics have started fomenting trouble.

“They have been doing it before now but they increased their tempo few days ago. ”

He explained that on Tuesday, 21st of June, the convoy of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola was shot at by a PDP thug called Ajakaiye Seyi at Ikoyi Junction in Ilesa West when he was on his way to Osu for campaign at about 6PM.

“It was not only Ajakaiye Seyi that carried out the attack. He was assisted by Adebayo Falade (Bayo Landlord), Alli Basit (Basti), Lekan Akerele (Elewedu) and Lekan Olajuyigbe (Godfather).

“How would you shot into the Governor’s convoy? But because the Governor is a peace-loving man, he merely told security operatives to carry out necessary actions. We petitioned the CP (Wale Olokode) and the Inspector-General of Police (Alkali Baba Usman).

“To our amusement, that same day the youth leader of Ilesha West, Honourable Abiola Olagunju was sitting in front of his father’s house along General Hospital road, which is a few meters from where the Governor’s convoy was attacked, these PDP thugs went to him and marcheted him. That happened around 9PM.

“That same day, they went to Councilor’s house who is representing Ward 6, Ilesha West, Honourable Wumi Oladiran, he was lucky to have escaped. They were heavily armed. He has since not able to return home.

“Yesterday, they attacked about ten members of our party. They attacked youth leader of the ward, Mr. Opeyemi Oke. They also attacked Wale Adeoye, Unit Chairman of Ward 3. They also attacked Seyi Anjorin, the legal advisor of Ward 3 in Ilesa West.

“One of the attacked is in a coma in an undisclosed hospital. We went to him yesternight and couldn’t hold back tears.

“As if that’s not enough, a former Chairman and Board Member of Osun State Polytechnic, Barrister Femi was also attacked in the same ward. They also attacked the Chairman of LG Board of Ilesa West, Honourable Ademola Phillips.

“When they finished at Ward 3, they went to Ward 4. A man called Mayowa Awe (Bishop) also joined. They were brandishing over 200 guns among other deadly weapons. They attacked Ward Chairman, Mr. Olalekan Abiodun.

“They were terrorizing the people. Notable among them Mayowa Awe (Apase), Alli Basti, Lekan Akerele (Elewedu), Lekan Olajuyigbe (Godfather), Akerele Wale (Water), Olanrewaju Abiola (Leemah), Rotimi Abu, Deji Faturoti (Deji Omo Mummy).

“We don’t want to take laws into our hands because our party is known for peace.” he said

Also speaking, Honourable Lawrence Babatunde Ayeni, the lawmaker representing Ijesa South federal constituency in the National Assembly charged security operatives to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He added that security operatives have been duly informed.

“I was in the green chamber in Abuja when I was called. I had to rush down.

“They know we have people who will vote for us. That is why they want to scare them. They want to deny voters their civic rights. That is the logic.” he said.

Reacting, PDP spokesman, Oladele Banji debunked the allegations saying APC is known for fabrication of lies against opposition.

He said: “You know APC for their behaviour. They are fond of shedding crocodile tears to cover up their evil act. It is not reasonable for an opposition, whose strength lies in the people, to now turn around against the same people that are collecting the PVC to vote for us. If we say we have confidence, it is the overwhelming support of the good people of Osun

“There is no other way they can show their support to us on election day than for them to have their PVC.

“It was APC thugs that invaded the PVC collection centre, shooting sporadically to disrupt the process. Ijesa people met their match. People who are ready to exercise their franchise repelled the thugs. If they had allowed that to go, that means nobody will come out again to vote. They misjudged the kind of people they wanted to attack. Those people are really Ijesa people. Their accusation is a face saving, ridiculous and laughable.”