Panic As Thugs Invade APC Secretariat, Assault Chairman In Ondo
Violence erupted on the Ondo State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure on Tuesday after the social gathering’s State Caretaker Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, was allegedly assaulted and chased out of a stakeholders’ assembly by armed thugs.
Eyewitnesses mentioned the attackers stormed the premises wielding sticks, machetes and different harmful objects, shouting threats and forcing social gathering members to flee.
“The entire place become a struggle zone. Folks ran in several instructions to avoid wasting their lives,” a celebration member mentioned, linking the incident to tensions forward of the forthcoming social gathering congress.
The disruption led to the abrupt cancellation of the assembly, which had been convened for social gathering stakeholders following the arrival of a Congress and Enchantment Committee from the APC nationwide secretariat. Occasion officers and supporters reportedly took refuge in close by buildings whereas others fled the realm totally.
Talking to journalists shortly after the incident, Adetimehin alleged that the attackers acted on the directive of the state governor. He particularly accused members of the Nationwide Union of Highway Transport Employees (NURTW), led by their state chairman, Ademilua Odudu, of invading the secretariat and violently disrupting the gathering.
“They got here in pressure this morning and ordered everyone to go away. They claimed the governor owns the social gathering. We informed them we weren’t difficult anyone’s authority, however they attacked us,” Adetimehin mentioned.
“They pushed me down, beat me mercilessly and stole my telephone. I’ve since reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police,” he added.
In accordance with him, the assembly had been agreed upon after consultations involving the Particular Adviser to the Governor on Political Issues, Kolawole Babatunde, and a previous briefing he acquired from the governor.
“Yesterday, the nationwide secretariat despatched a congress and attraction committee. All of us agreed {that a} stakeholders’ assembly would maintain immediately. However this morning, the NURTW chairman and his males invaded the secretariat and disrupted all the things,” he mentioned.
As of the time of submitting this report, safety businesses had not introduced any arrests in reference to the incident.
In a press release signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the Ondo APC described the event as an remoted inner misunderstanding.
“Preliminary data signifies that the disturbance stemmed from an inner misunderstanding aggravated by just a few unscrupulous components whose actions don’t replicate the values or self-discipline of the social gathering,” the assertion learn.
The social gathering dismissed claims linking the violence to the forthcoming congress, describing such solutions as speculative and deceptive.
The APC additionally recommended Ondo State Governor Fortunate Aiyedatiwa for what it described as a swift response, noting that he directed safety operatives to the secretariat to revive order.
“His proactive response ensured that calm was shortly restored,” the social gathering mentioned, including that ordinary actions had resumed.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer within the state, Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed that officers responded promptly to a misery name.
“The police command acquired a misery name, and we instantly swung into motion, which led to the deployment of our operatives to the APC secretariat alongside Ilesha Storage Highway. Our efforts paved the best way, and calm was restored to the realm,” he mentioned.
He added that one one that sustained accidents had been taken to a close-by hospital for therapy and that the Commissioner of Police had deployed tactical groups to safe the secretariat and its environs whereas investigations proceed.
The social gathering assured members and the general public of its dedication to inner democracy and a peaceable congress course of.
Fidelis David
Times Nigeria