Posted by From Seun Adeoye, Osogbo on
VIOLENCE broke out in Osogbo, Osun State capital yesterday, when the convoy of Afenifere leaders who were on a two-day sensitisation visit was attacked by some unknown persons with some people, including Chief Ganiyu Dawodu sustaining various injuries.
VIOLENCE broke out in Osogbo, Osun State capital yesterday, when the convoy of Afenifere leaders who were on a two-day sensitisation visit was attacked by some unknown persons with some people, including Chief Ganiyu Dawodu sustaining various injuries.
About four vehicles in the convoy were vandalised, two of which belonged to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Chief Whip in the House of Representatives, Babatunde Oduyoye.
The police immediately arrested the state Secretary of the AD, Wale Afolabi and others found with him at the state party secretariat along Gbongan road.
The state Commissioner of Police, Sulaiman Fakai, told The Guardian that five persons had so far been arrested, adding that he had already ordered his men to beef up security in the state capital.
The attack followed the vandalisation of the Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa faction's state secretariat along Ikirun road and which was billed for official commissioning yesterday.
Already, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi, has condemned the attack, saying it was unfortunate that such could happen to the Afenifere leaders in the South-West, particularly in Osogbo.
The state Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who hosted the Afenifere leaders in his office on Tuesday, said that the perpetrators of such act were enemies of the Yoruba race.
Oyinlola, who spoke through his Press Secretary, Kayode Oladeji, stated that "those who carried out the attack have nothing to offer except violence and the same people who ruled the state through four years of crisis cannot change their ways. This show the type of calibre of people they are made of."
The convoy was attacked at Oke-Abesu, along Ibokun road at about 12.30 p.m. while coming from the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) after featuring on a live radio programme.
According to sources, those who unleash the violence were hiding at a nearby primary school and as the vehicles carrying the group emerged, they pounced on them using several kinds of dangerous weapons.
Some of the vehicles vandalised included a sports utility van (SUV) with registration number AP 755 KSF, a 605 Pegeout car with number NASS 437 and two others with registration numbers GG 83 AAA and HOR 306.
During the programme, Acting Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, had highlighted on the crisis in the AD and his faction's support for Akinfenwa instead of Chief Adebisi Akande as the party's national chairman.
Those in the convoy that was attacked included Fasoranti, Chiefs Ayo Adebanjo, Olu Falae, Akinfenwa, Dawodu, former governor of Ondo State, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, and former deputy governors, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo (Lagos State) and Alhaji Gbenga Kaka (Ogun).
The others are Chiefs Femi Okunrounmu, Supo Sonibare, Wunmi Adegbonmire, Korede Duyile, Tunde Odanye, Bioye Oyetunji, Segun Adegoke, R.A. Shitta-Bey among others.
Addressing reporters on the incident, Oduyoye, who is the group's Publicity Secretary, said "We did not suspect anybody. We are not here to fight but to sensitise our people in Osun State, to remind them of the craddle and to mobilise them against 2007."
"But we are of the firm belief that those who did this were only scared of our success. It is unfortunate that this is happening in Osun State. We have been to Oyo and Lagos State but we will not be dettered," he added.
The group also visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and also addressed a rally at Osogbo township stadium.