By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that political thugs loyal to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, have killed a member of the APC, while wounding 50 and vandalising 30 vehicles. According to the APC, the member that lost his life in the dastardly act was Abdulrasheed Oloduowo.
Briefing journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, on Monday, the APC senatorial candidate for Kwara central senatorial district, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said the ugly incident was perpetrated “by well known agents of Senator Bukola Saraki on Sunday while APC members from Ilorin West and their friends from other parts of Ilorin metropolis gathered for their party rally with a view to sensitising APC members on the forthcoming general elections.” The unfortunate incident, he said, happened in the presence of law enforcement agents that the party invited to provide security cover for the event.
He said: “But the security agents became helpless when well armed thugs numbering about 50 invaded the venue of the programme, Ode Alfa Nda, Pakata road, Ilorin and unleashed terror on innocent APC members and supporters.
“The gubernatorial candidate and the House of Assembly candidate were only lucky to have escaped unhurt because of the tight security around them. Many members of our great party had to run away ri save their dear lives because of the ensued pandemonium while some other APC members were not that lucky. They sustained various degrees of injuries. In short, the hoodlums had their way as they succeeded in disrupting the programme .
“Those injured include Yusuf Alagbede and Jaji Adeola among others. All of them are now receiving treatment at different hospitals in Ilorin.
“Even our House of Assembly candidate , Barrister Ayilara had Gus Mercedes Benz car and his branded vehicle smashed together with several other cars belonging to to our party members and supporters parked along the road near the venue of the programme.
“It is sad to report that several hours after the programme was disrupted, the hoodlums were still not done. They still went after one of our party members, by name Abdulrasheed Oloduowo and killed the innocent man in cold blood. His only offence was his being a member of the APC.”
Oloriegbe said the Sunday incident was the second within four days, the first being on Thursday 12th January while the APC governorship candidate was leading a peaceful rally around Ilorin town.
He said: “They were attacked at various points , including Adeta , Omoda and Pakata areas. Unfortunately after hearing the report, Saraki went and and turned the truth on its head by saying that his supporters were attacked. Already arrests have been made and the truth will come out.
“He did the same thing yesterday as he visited Agbaji area only to give out money for some repairs of some damaged property. He also went to visit the injured ones in the hospital. We ask him who disrupted the APC rally at Ose Alfa Nda? Who vandalised vehicles parked at the venue of the programme? We submit here that the visit of Bukola Saraki to both Agbaji area and the hospital were deliberate attempts to cover up the heinous deed of his hatchment.”
He called on the police and other law enforcement agencies to go into the untoward development, especially as it involves loss of lives and destruction of property of innocent people with a view to bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book, to serve as deterrents to others.
Oloriegbe implored party members not to be dissuaded by the unfortunate incidents, saying Saraki’s plan and his cohorts was to intimidate and scare”all of us into submission so that we will not be able to come out and exercise our franchise on the day of the elections. We shall not allow this to happen.”
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