ADELEKE, APC CAMP TRADE BLAME OVER SHOOTING
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HOTJIST NEWS
The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, and the All Progressives Congress campaign team blamed each other on Tuesday for the chaos that happened in some communities in the state, which resulted in about three people being injured.
A press investigation found that the problems began in Ile-Ife during a walk organized by the APC to support their governorship candidate for the August 15 election, Bola Oyebamiji.
It was learned that the walk, which started around 9 a.m. at the Mayfair Area in Ife, was led by Abimbola Ajilesoro, who represents the Ife Central/Ife East/Ife North/Ife South federal constituency in the House of Representatives. The event turned problematic when it reached the Sabo area.
There were claims that the violence recorded was triggered by some hoodlums that tore campaign posters of a particular governorship candidate pasted close to the main road at Sabo, Ile-Ife.
Some people who talked to our correspondent but didn’t want to be named said that during the chaos, criminals working for the APC and Accord parties were fighting each other. They used dangerous weapons during the fight.
It was also learned that people near the scene ran in different directions to avoid getting hurt as the violence spread through the market.
A trader at Sabo market, who only went by the name Usira, said that a motorcycle belonging to one of the criminals was taken and damaged.
They were shooting guns and using machetes against each other.
“The crises started when some hoodlums tore campaign posters of a particular governorship candidate when the victory walk organised by the APC reached Sabo area. Hoodlums working for both the APC and Accord were involved in the fight.”
After the Ife incident, gunshots were also fired at Aisu, Owode-Ede, Aregbesola Area of Osogbo, Olaiya, Old Garage and Oke Fia by suspected hoodlums, said to be passing through Osogbo metropolis, causing panic among the residents.
During the shooting at Owode-Ede, an elderly man, whose names could not be immediately confirmed was reportedly injured and rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for treatment.
At Aregbesola Area in Osogbo, a driver sitting in a bus was hit by bullet and taken to an undisclosed hospital.
At Testing Ground Area, presence of soldiers was observed at a business premises owned by an APC member, Lawrence Dada.
Dada, who accused the military of looting his premises on the suspicion that he was working for APC, also said two members of his staff were arrested and whisked away by the soldiers.
Governor Adeleke, had visited one of the victims at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital in Osogbo, and two others receiving treatment at the State Hospital, Ede.
The governor while speaking with journalists on the incident further said, “There were coordinated attacks on residents of Ile Ife, Ede and Osogbo today by pro-Ambo political thugs. After the dastardly acts that occurred at Ile Ife, the attackers proceeded to Akoda, Owode, Olaiya, Old Garage, Okefia and other parts of Osogbo. The attackers in a 15 vehicle convoy branded with AMBO pictures paraded the towns without any response from the police.
“As at the time of calling this press conference, several residents were feared injured and even one or two people killed. The attackers are led by thugs known as Aleba and Asiri. Worst still, the state police command has not raised a finger to stop the attacks or arrest the attackers. These attacks are outrageous, unprovoked and a deliberate step to plunge the state into chaos.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the destabilising roles of Marine Minister, Gboyega Oyetola and the Osun APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. The provocation is getting to an unbearable level. For the past few months, I have been calming my people to maintain peace despite persistent attacks.”
But while reacting, Osun APC Campaign Council said innocent citizens and supporters of the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji were attacked by hoodlums working for Adeleke.
In a statement signed by the Head, Media and Publicity Committee of the campaign council, Remi Omowaiye, the party also alleged that campaign buses belonging to the APC were attacked and vandalised by suspected PDP/Accord hoodlums in the Owode-Ede area.
It further read partly, “The attack left several AMBO supporters severely injured while valuable campaign materials and property were destroyed. Such brazen acts of violence have no place in a democratic society and should worry every well-meaning citizen of Osun State.
“Why should the electoral preference of a citizen become a criminal offence? Why should a governor, either directly or through body language, encourage supporters and kinsmen to attack fellow citizens simply because they hold different political opinions?
“The Governor Adeleke branded buses were reportedly seen conveying questionable characters brandishing dangerous weapons and firing gun shots. Many innocent citizens have reportedly suffered injuries in the crossfire while law-abiding residents continue to live in fear as PDP/Accord-linked criminals turn parts of Osogbo into theatres of violence.”
The campaign council commiserated with innocent residents that sustained injuries, or suffered the destruction of property and personal belongings as a result of violent disturbances and appealed “To the Inspector-General of Police and all relevant security agencies to urgently stem the rising tide of political violence in Osun State.”
Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Oluwaseun Abosede, in a statement, blamed the mayhem on suspected APC thugs.
“These armed men stopped at the Oranmiyan House, Aregbe Junction, which serves as the Osun ADC Campaign Headquarters, where they allegedly fired several shots before proceeding to the NURTW park opposite the building and shooting indiscriminately at vehicles and individuals in the vicinity.
“The hoodlums subsequently moved through Owode Ede, Olaiya Junction, Old Garage, and other strategic locations within Osogbo, unleashing a reign of terror in broad daylight, leaving trails of agony and bloods behind without any visible intervention from security agencies,” Abosede said.
Expressing concerns over the incident, Abosede call on the State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to rise above every perception of political bias and immediately ensure a thorough investigation into these incidents.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said investigation had commenced into the mayhem.
“We are aware of the incidents. We have already commenced investigation,” Ojelabi said.
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