The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, SSACO, has told the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to call his supporters to order over alleged attacks on APC members in Oyo State.
His warning was sequel to an alleged attack on two APC members, Abiola Abulesowo and Abanise Olanrewaju, at the Ibadan North Local Government secretariat on Wednesday.
The victims were said to have accompanied a newly registered voter to the INEC office inside the secretariat when they were allegedly accosted by thugs.
Narrating their ordeal, Abulesowo said they were challenged for entering the secretariat as APC members.
“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 reigning 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,” he said.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, SSACO faulted the attack and urged Hon. Adekanmbi and Governor Seyi Makinde to caution their supporters.
“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 said.