The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, SSACO, has called on the Allied People’s Movement, APM, governorship candidate Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to rein in on his supporters who are said to be daily attacking All Progressives Congress, APC, members and supporters across the state.
Alli’s caution came on the heels of an attack unleashed on two APC members – Abiola Abulesowo and Abanise Olanrewaju – by suspected APM supporters in Ibadan North local government secretariat on Wednesday.
The duo had accompanied a newly registered voter to INEC office at the local government secretariat when the attackers identified them.
Narrating their harrowing experience, Abulesowo said: “They challenged us, asking why we, as APC members, entered the secretariat which is under the leadership of APM. And we answered that the secretariat belongs to all Nigerians, not just APM members. They insisted that we were too daring to have been bold enough to enter the secretariat, knowing fully that APM is the ruling party in Oyo State. While trying to explain to them that the issue was not a political one, slaps and punches started raining on our heads. We tried to protect ourselves but they were many. We had to run. Yet they pursued us. While we thought we were already escaping, we landed in the hands of PMS thugs at Bus Stop who took over the beating. They tore our dress and thoroughly embarrassed us – just because we are APC members.”
The duo recalled that the incident happened at about 1 p.m. on the day.
In a statement the Director of Media and Publicity Bisi Oladele, the SSACO strongly condemned violence against APC members, and called on Hon. Adekanmbi and Governor Seyi Makinde to caution their supporters, warning that they must not hide under government cover to visit violence on members of the opposition, and indeed anyone in Oyo State.
“This condemnable act is another incident in an ugly trend of muscling the opposition in Oyo State under Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership. We understand that the loss of popularity is eating up Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi. Yet there is absolutely no reason to visit violence on opposition members in our state.
“Governor Makinde and Adekanmbi should stop this provocation and follow the path of peaceful campaign. We urge them to embrace peace and focus on issues, not attacks.
“The SSACO calls on the Commissioner of Police to fish out these hoodlums and make them face the law. Oyo State belongs to us all, and no one should use government power to prevent opposition members from living a peaceful life,” the statement reads in part.
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