25 years after, man receives yet another death threat for perceived political affiliation

The saying that distance is no barrier seems to be the maxim playing out in the sordid tale of one Mr. James Akindunbi, a one time Youth Leader of the Odeda Local Government, Odeda, Ogun State.

45-year-old James Akindubi, whose whereabout is yet unknown had in a lengthy telephone conversation with this reporter, relayed how his political affiliation in Nigeria caused him untold hardship, and misery some two and a half decades ago.

It will be recalled that in 1998 Nigeria returned to full democracy after several years of military rule and incursion into politics and the interim government of President Abdulsalam Abubabakar was saddled with the responsibility of conducting credible democratic elections to give way to a full fledge democracy.

Recalling the turbulent times that marred the build up to the 1999 General Elections, Odeda Local Government was the cynosure of all eyes as the region witnessed a spate of politically motivated killings and butchering that was never before seen or experienced in the region.

The tensed atmosphere began when Akindunbi was elected the youth leader of his local government, a milestone that was perceived to be against the wish and decision of the leaders and excos of his political party in his constituency. Such was the brutality of the killings that no fewer than 17 people were killed both daylight and midnight and  several others maimed in broad daylight.

With a teary voice and weak tone, an emotional Akindunbi explained how he escaped several assassination attempts both day and night by forces believed to be from the opposition camp within his party which forced him into exile to seek refuge in early year 2000 abandoning his family and political aspirations.

Akindunbi also recalled the recent burgling of his family house located in the Obantoko area of the Abeokuta Metropolis in a manner reminiscent of the 2004 raid on the same house where a gang of unknown and fully armed men had forced their way into the apartment to inform his late mother to warn him not to return to the country if he doesn’t want to be killed. His mother later died that same year of cardiac arrest as a result of the frequent threat to her life and that of his son.

In his words, “On Monday the 2nd of July, 2023, I received a call from my brother that my family house which I just renovated last year, had been burgled by fully armed unknown men who were said to have threatened to kill me if I ever step the shores of Nigeria. Their grievance was that they lost in the general elections of  2023 because they believed I sponsored their opposition in the elections where they lost all seats.”

Mr. Akindunbi had taken this reporter back memory lane to the horrible scenes and scenario of 2000.

He recalled how he openly canvassed and supported the opposition Alliance for Democracy when he and his camp were shortchanged.

His words, “In the first quarter of 1998, and as the 1999 elections were fast approaching, I had approached the then state chairman of the party, Chief Foju Fabode, to prevail upon the the party leaders in my constituency to bring transparency to bear in the conduct of the party primaries but that was not to be when the primaries took place, there was not a hint of transparency and I was brushed aside as the election took place a day before the agreed date announced,” Mr James Akindunbi said.

An angry and desolate James Akindunbi decided to cross carpet to the opposition Alliance for Democracy Party (AD) where he, as a prominent youth leader,  canvassed —massive— support for  the opposition candidate  who eventually won in the election proper.

“Because I was a young man of means and influence, Akindunbi continued, I was able to rally the voters to win the election for the opposition much to the chagrin and ire of the PDP stalwarts who began a war of attrition with me and my family.  I was harassed, ambushed and attacked on several occasions almost to the point of death before I decide to seek refuge in Ibadan, a neighbouring state, and later abroad,” Akindunbi said.

In a copy of the affidavit presented and deposed to by a member of his family, and sighted by this reporter, Akindubi narrated how his house was burgled and several valuable items destroyed and some carted away.

He also revealed the death threat and abuse calls to his family and himself  from the same set of people  Akindunbi, however, confessed his non-involvement and political apathy In the constituency’s politics both in cash and in kind ever since his forced exile out of the country early 2000 to seek refuge abroad.

He appealed to all relevant constituted authorities to ensure the security and safety of himself, family and property.