Thugs belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, unleashed mayhem on members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 4 local government areas in Oyo town.
Party members who spoke with journalists said trouble had started immediately the APC concluded its flag off where 51 candidates vying for various positions were presented with party’s flag as signs that they were the authentic candidates.
Members of the party, who did not know the thugs had plans for them, sustained varying degrees of injuries while properties belonging to them and their supporters were destroyed.
Jamiu Aroba, who said he was sleeping in his house, when thugs invaded his house in the early hours of Tuesday, toured journalists into his compound. His Toyota Avalon car was riddled with bullets while his house was also destroyed. Shell of bullets were seen inside the compound.
He accused one Omo Alhaja and Fadaka, both members of the Park Management System, PMS, in AFIJIO/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency as leading the thugs to his house. He also said his wife’s club lounge was also destroyed.
“They said I was part of those who led thugs to attack their guys. How is that reasonable? How could I have done that. These are people that I know very well. I think they are just venting their anger on us because they were shocked by the large turnout of APC members at the flag off on Monday. They are seeing signs they will be defeated at the polls,” Aroba said.
Skimeh Condemns Attack
Akeem Adeyemi, lawmaker representing Oyo federal constituency, has condemned the attack on members of the party in the federal constituency.
While urging members of the APC as well as his constituents to exercise patience, he urged Governor Seyi Makinde to call men of the PMS as well as PDP thugs to order in order not to plunge the town into crisis.
Campaign Team’s Reaction
Meanwhile the Bola Tinubu/Teslim Folarin campaign organization has reacted to the ugly incident, calling for the arrest of the perpetrators.
The party said that fracas that ensued after its flag off in the town was orchestrated by the ‘jittery’ PDP.
A statement signed by Dr. Olubunmi Akinola, its administrative secretary, the campaign organization, explained that “On account of the lies and misrepresentations being peddled amongst the good people of Oyo State and on global social media platforms, it has become necessary for us to make the following clarifications:
“The reported fracas on Monday evening in Oyo Town between parties unknown to us, happened an hour after the APC campaign flag-off had been rounded up and concluded. It has nothing to do with it.
“Most troubling and of concern to us is the allegation that the APC pasted her billboard print on an existing PDP print which we are not aware existed there ab initio.
“The subsequent attacks on the persons and houses of known APC faithfuls and loyalists in a reaction to the massive crowd and the general success of our campaign flag-off event will not change anything.
“Oyo Town in her heart and soul is an APC (progressive) town and nothing will change that. The 2019 elections results was a pointer, in which APC won all the House of Assembly seats, the House of Representatives and the Senatorial seats. God Willing, 2023 will not be different.
“PDP authorities should call their leaders in Oyo state to order with a view to stop the lies, the violence and the intimidation of our party members because we will not fold our arms and watch, if it continues.
“The daylight mayhem unleashed on our party members in Oyo Town on Monday was initiated, coordinated and supervised by persons known as Omo Alhaja and Fadaka, both members of the Park Management System(PMS) in Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency.
“We hereby call on security agencies to initiate investigations into these matters and arrest those found culpable to protect the rights and privileges of law-abiding citizens of Oyo Town.
“We call on our members and teeming supporters not to join issues with these law breakers,” the statement added.
