The political situation in Oyo State Thursday assumed a dangerous dimension in Ibadan, the state capital, as some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) disrupted the political rally organised by the Accord Party (AP) in the state led by a former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja
The rally was organised to allow Ladoja welcome members from the ACN and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into his party.
Tents and canopies erected at the venue, Olomi, where some members of the ACN and PDP were to defect to AP were burnt while vehicles belonging to Ladoja’s party, chairs and other instruments were vandalised.
Speaking with journalists, Dr. Ibrahim Olaifa, a member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said not less than 30 members of the party were injured.
He alleged that the attack was initiated by the NURTW in the state led by Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele).
The House member condemned the incident, saying it was regrettable that the state had returned to its violent political era.
The car belonging to Mr. Laide Oyelude of the Daily Newswatch, was also vandalised when the hoodlums were hurling stones at the security agents who ensured that peace reigned while the number plates of some of the vehicles damaged are OYO: EGB 138 AA and CK 570 KTU.
It took the intervention of security agents who fired warning shots to disperse the hoodlums who had assembled again.
Tear gas canisters were fired to scare away the hoodlums who were saying there was no way the campaign would hold and stayed very close to the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed there.
Though Ladoja got wind of the crisis at his Bodija, Ibadan residence, he talked tough, saying he would go there and match the thugs strength for strength.
Speaking with journalists shortly before he left for the venue of the rally, he said, “Ajimobi is the Chief Security Officer of the state. Is this what they want to do? Can he prevent us from doing what we want to do?”
While addressing a large crowd of members of the party at the venue of the rally, the AP leader berated the ACN-led government for returning the state to the days of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, stating that the ACN was jittery because they know that they are on their way out of governance in the state.
According to him, the Accord Party cannot be intimidated and every day the party is receiving members from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ACN.
He said: “Our members that they removed from their government are back with us in the party, these are loyal party members who would not leave for a pot of porridge. Let me assure you that we will not run away from the state for them because it belongs to all of us, very soon we would come back here to receive those who want to decamp to our party.”