– Party condemns attack on secretariat
By Banji Ayoola
Gunmen have attacked the Ile Ife home of a former commissioner in Osun State, Mr Biyi Odunlade, as the crisis rocking the state chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, due to grievances over the party’s contentious ward congress held to pick its first line of officials degenerates.
The man, who served as the commissioner for Youths, Sports, and Special Needs in the immediate past Rauf Aregbesola administration in the state narrated his ordeal to reporters on Sunday, saying that the yet to be identified gunmen stormed and vandalised his home and cars and looted his wife’s shop
He said the gunmen assaulted his wife and house girl, with the former immediately locking herself in her room for safety.
Describing the incident at his home as “a serious attack.” he said: “My wife was harassed but managed to escape. My properties were destroyed.”
His words: “I came back from Osogbo to Ile-Ife after thugs attacked us at the APC party secretariat during the hearing of the Ward Congress Appeal Committee. I sat with my friends in my compound before I left to see someone at the palace.
“After about 20 minutes I left home, my daughter called me on phone to inform me that my house wass under attack by some hoodlums who covered their faces and were armed with guns and cutlasses.
“She told me that they were shooting in front of my house. She went to the police station to report the matter.
“Those hoodlums were calling my name and shouting, that they were in my house to kill me.
The incident happened few days after The Osun Progressives (TOP), the faction of the APC in the state loyal to Aregbesola, told a news conference that there were plans to attack the leaders of their group allegedly by those loyal to Governor Oyetola.
But the governor’s chief press secretary, Mr Ismail Omipidan, described the allegation as an attempt to smear the name of his principal, Oyetola, who is the principal of the Ileri Oluwa faction of the party in the state campaigning for his return to complete his statutory second term.
Earlier on Saturday, the two factions of the party in the state hadclashed at the party secretariat in Osogbo, leaving several people injured.
Meanwhile, the Caretaker Chairman of the party in the State, Prince Gboyega Famodun, has condemned the invasion of the party secretariat by some members of the party while the Ward Congress Appeal Committee was hearing petitions.
He described the action as “crude, unacceptable, wicked, unwarranted, self-serving, undemocratic and brutish.”
In a statement, he fingered the chairman of a group within the party, The Osun Progressives (TOP) leaders, Mr Adelowo Adebiyi and other party leaders in that group.
He said: “It was surprising that some elements who were professing to be leaders and members of the APC in the state could be a party to bringing the same party to disrepute, odium and an avenue to assault and attack fellow party members.
“During the invasion of the state party secretariat, the political thugs who accompanied the TOP chieftains into the place grew wild and started to forcefully remove and beat any sighted member of the APC who was putting on Governor Oyetola’s inscribed fez cap.”
He said he saw no reason why genuine members of the party cannot abide by the existing internal party mechanisms to settle crises, instead of resorting to self-help.
Famodun, who said further that the APC is a product of a constitution, enjoined all the members of the party to desist from any action or inaction that would not align with the provisions of the constitution guiding the party.
However, Adebiyi, at a news conference held at Oranmiyan House, Osogbo, denied the claim. He said his TOP group members were the victims.
Aregbesola, the interior minister, and Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s predecessor, ruled the state for two terms of eight years permitted by the constitution and handed over to Oyetola, At the completion of his tenure, he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as a minister
Notably Oyetola served prominently in the Aregbesola administration as a member of the kitchen cabinet. Both later fell apart over differences.
