Posted by By Akeeb Alarape, Ibadan on
A traditional ruler in Oyo State was Friday beaten up by suspected political thugs for daring to host the former governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, over today's by-election into Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency of the state.
A traditional ruler in Oyo State was Friday beaten up by suspected political thugs for daring to host the former governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, over today's by-election into Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency of the state.
Baale of Ijaye, Chief Oladejo Eegunjobi, was said to have earned the anger of the thugs after summoning a meeting of his chiefs to his palace and canvassed support for Ladoja's former Chief Media Officer (CMO), Alhaji Basiru Latinwo, who was contesting the election with six others.
Saturday Sun authoritatively gathered that the incident forced the strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, to go to Ijaye, in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, to personally apologize to the royal father for the beating.
When contacted on the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Miss Olabisi Okuwobi, denied knowledge of the incident, saying she had not been briefed about it.
The incident was, however, confirmed by Ladoja's aides as well as Latinwo, who was standing for the election.
Meanwhile, Okuwobi said the state police command is was combat ready for election riggers and social miscreants that may be used to subvert today's election.
Okuwobi told Saturday Sun that the command has deployed enough police personnel to the two local government areas participating in the election to ensure free and fair contest. She warned trouble makers to steer clear of the areas in their own interest.
'We entertain no fear at all. Election will take place in just two local government areas and our personnel have been deployed to the areas. I can say the command will literarily relocate to that constituency as from this evening," Okuwobi stated yesterday.