…..It’s Akeredolu that ordered clamp down on us —PDP
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu , the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr. Bolaji Salami and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps, Philip Ayuba have visited Ijebu-Owo and Ipele in Owo local government area of Ondo State to assess the level of wanton destruction carried out by suspected political thugs when supporters of the PDP and the APC clashed in the town on Tuesday.
Moving round Owo town, from Mobil in Ijebu-Owo to Aro street Junction down to Ipele town, the suspected PDP thugs destroyed over twenty vehicles and injured over ten persons who were initially receiving treatment at Ipele Hospital before they were transferred to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) due to complicated medical situations.
One of the victims, Mrs. Nike Alale who said she recently returned from Norway narrated how she was attacked while buying fuel at Bovas Gas Station at Aro Junction in Owo.
She said, ”We were buying fuel here and all of a sudden we heard gun shots. We had to run inside the fuel station office. We were watching them as they destroyed my vehicle. They were shouting “Eyi La fe”. They stole all the valuables in my car including my phones and this car document
“They came down from a PDP campaign convoy. We saw them shouting kill them! Kill them! There is no APC sticker on my car. I am not an APC member. This is unfair.”
“The Owo High Hope Club was not speared in the attack. The leader of the club, Mr. Deji Ogunbodede said members of the club were drinking peacefully before the PDP thugs attack.
He said ”We were drinking peaceful and suddenly we heard gunshots from the PDP campaign convoy. Some boys entered this place with guns. They wore PDP vest and caps. They aimed at us but we ran away. Look at bullets all over the floor.
“Our cars are destroyed. They packed our phones. Over 30 phones were packed here, away but the thugs. They broke my car and carted away all valuables inside including the photocopy of the car documents. They broke our fridge and too bottles of beers away.
“We were surprised. This club is not for APC. It belongs to Owo people. We see this attack as an attack on Owo town. It’s a taboo. People don’t bring war to Owo. The worse part was that they were shielded by the Police, Civil Defence and the Soldiers.”
The branch chairman of Ipele NURTW, Bukunmi Ojo, who is on the hospital bed said he was beaten thoroughly and stabbed severally by the PDP thugs in Jegede’s campaign convoy.
Ojo said Jegede lied on Channels Television yesterday when he referred to him as a member of the PDP.
He said, ”Jegede’s thugs attacked me. I am not a members of the PDP as claimed by Jegede on TV yesterday. Everyone in Ipele knows that I am an APC member.
Afolabi Ibidapo narrated how the PDP stormed the APC secretariat at Ipele and descended on all party members holding their meetings peacefully.
Several vehicles and motorcycles belonging to APC members that were destroyed in Ipele were seen by the Security chiefs who were also in the town.
Other persons attacked and still on the hospital bed receiving medical attention are; Tunde Oke, Aladenika Bade and Abraham Steven.
Shell of bullets from sophisticated weapons were recovered from the scene of the incident.
Addressing Journalists, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Salami flanked by the commandant of the NCDSC, Mr. Ayuba said, he has gone round and saw that many properties were damaged and scores of persons were injured.
While assuring that the perpetrators will be brought to book, the Police boss, said investigation will commence so as to get to the root of the matter.
On the October 10, governorship election, he said, ”I have always assured the people of Ondo state that security will be total and everybody will be allowed to vote for the party of their choice.”
He identified the shells of bullet recovered from the scene of the incident as that of Pistol, Ak 47 and pump action which he said are prohibited arms for civilians.
EYITAYO JEGEDE CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION
PRESS RELEASE
AKEREDOLU ORDERS CLAMPDOWN ON PDP LEADERS IN THE NORTHERN SENATORIAL DISTRICT.
Information reaching us indicates that several members and leaders of the PDP in Owo local government are being arrested on the orders of the Governor of Ondo state.
These arrests is sequel to an attack on the campaign train of the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN by members of the APC who stormed the venue of the campaign in commando style with sophisticated weapons in a bid to disrupt its success.
We are concerned about the wanton disrespect for the rule of law by the Akeredolu led APC government and its willingness to use the security agencies and thugs to harass, intimidate and cow opposition parties in the buildup to the elections. We had earlier raised the alarm that the APC had perfected plans to clampdown on known PDP leaders and to have been removed from circulation during the elections y charging them to court on trumped up allegations.
We also have it from very credible sources that the list of prominent party leaders to be arrested and detained before the election has been drawn with such notable names as Hon Debo Ologunagba, Akogun Tokunbo Modupe, Mr. Sadiq Obanoyen , Dr Supo Ijabadeniyi, and other notable leaders from Owo, Ose and Akoko Southwest where the governor fears a major upset will be recorded. In a meeting coordinated by the Special Adviser to the governor on infrastructure, several persons are being recruited and funded to carry out major attacks on the marked leaders before the election.
The campaigns of the PDP candidate has been peaceful and in compliance with the rules of engagement which mandates that two political parties must not campaign within the same location in a bid to forestall violence. The APC has consistently attacked our members and campaign team in Oba, Oka, Ipele and now in Owo and we use this opportunity to appeal to the security agencies to do all it can to protect lawful citizens from the assault of the Akeredolu led APC government.
We also call for the immediate release of all PDP members arrested.
Thank you.
Eyitayo Jegede Campaign Organization
29th September, 2020