Oyo state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently trading blame over the identity of victims, number of casualties and factors responsible for Thursday’s clash in Ibadan.
Newspot recalls that about three people were reportedly killed on Thursday at Ile Titun area in Ibadan South East local government area Thursday evening.
Several other people were seriously injured during the clash between party supporters.
Some vehicles and motorcycles were also damaged during the clash.
Newspot reports that the two political parties are contesting the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections billed to take place on Saturday in the state.
PDP claimed that all the victims were its members. It identified one of the victims as the Ward 10 councillor in Ibadan South East local government area.
But the APC in its reaction insisted that all the casualties were also its members. It also claimed that about seven of its members were seriously injured.
The Oyo state chapter of PDP spoke in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji.
Olatunji said that the killing of its ward 10 councilor in Ibadan South East local government by suspected APC members had confirmed its series of security alerts.
Olatunji said, “We are very disturbed as a party by this ugly turn of event. We never expected it would be taken this far by the Oyo APC and its Governorship candidate. Even though we suspected due to the desperation exhibited by Folarin, particularly brazenly flaunting a sword at one of his rallies, we never thought his desperation would be worth any human life.
“Unfortunately, we already have three innocent lives cut off from the surface of the earth on account of just one man’s desperation to become governor at all cost. So, we ask, now that they’ve killed three innocent men, how many more are they aiming at to make Folarin Governor at all cost?
“This is politics, you’re expected to sell your ideas to the people and wait for them to decide at the polls, what we are already witnessing in Oyo state with today’s event is worse than just a brazen show of beastly act but a tip of the iceberg of a Satanic agenda that’s coming if the people allow it”.
PDP members came to attack us during our meeting – APC
However, the APC accused the member representing Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Abass Adigun, of being responsible for the clash.
The APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, enjoined the state police command to investigate the ugly incident thoroughly.
Sadare in the statement made available to Newspot noted that this will help to ensure that those found culpable were made to face the full wrath of the law.
“As much as we would not want to prevent the security agents from doing the needful by investigating the incident thoroughly with a view to ascertaining the identities of all the attackers and other accomplices, it is imperative we establish the fundamental point that it was a premeditated onslaught against our members who were holding a strategic meeting ahead of the election coming up on Saturday.
“The exact location of the ugly incident was the Ibadan South East local government secretariat at Iyana Court, Ile-Tuntun Area of Ibadan. Some stalwarts of the APC had gathered to plan ahead of the Saturday poll in relation to deployment and monitoring of poll agents. While the indoor meeting was going on, it was reported that a team of PDP members led by Hon. Adigun emerged from nowhere and they created tension and panic among residents who scampered for safety.
“Information about the casualties recorded is still sketchy but about seven of our members who sustained varying degrees of injury have since been hospitalized. It is on this note that we urge the Commissioner of Police to order a thorough investigation of the incident and also ensure that such incident is prevented in future”.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
