PDP, APC members clash in Ile-Ife, scores injured
By Jeleel Olawale
There was pandemonium in Ile-Ife between members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ile-Ife as the clashes led to scores injured in the fracas.
It was gathered that the APC alleged a PDP youth leader in Ife Central of masterminding the attack on its members suspected to be Ogunsola Yinka at Ilare Ward 3 in Ile-Ife, a loyalist of the PDP Chairman, Ife Central Local Government.
Information had it that in the past few weeks, there has been a series of attacks on some APC members which led to destruction of properties.
“The All Progressive members in Ilare Ward 3 condemn the attacks on our members in its entirety.
“It is regrettable to note that the Ife Central PDP has unleashed their vicious thugs squad to attack any member of our party in the local government area.
“It was found that one Ogunsola Yinka, PDP youth leader in ife Central and Abioye Taye (Dabandaba) at the presence of their party chairman in Ife central, were said to have been alleged to stab APC member, Mr Najeem Adebayo who is one of the local executives of the party, who has been admitted at the hospital.”
A source said the same incident occurred last month in the stabbing of a member of APC, Mr Adeleke Gbenga, as the same repeated itself on Mr Najeem Adebayo yesterday.
One of the party members who sought anonymity explained that this has been happening severally as the said people have been constituting nuisance, and attacks on innocent people in the area.
“Upon their failure to fulfil and implement their electioneering promises in Osun State, since their emergence as the ruling party in the state, they have been characterised with violence and various attacks which have sent fears into the minds of residents in ile ife.
“We condemn these unprovoked attacks outrightly and call on the leadership of our party APC led by Sooko Tajudeen Lawal and the security agencies to fish out the PDP chieftains in the local government and their thugs responsible for this unnecessary bloodshed.
“We wish to let the alleged individuals know that this will be heavily resisted as the law enforcement agents are urged to do their work and fish out every identified element that wants to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the local government area,” the source said.
The source appealed to APC leaders in Osun state, Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and Sooko Tajudeen Lawal to take drastic steps with a view to end the dastardly acts to stop future occurrence.
Reacting, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ife Central, Mr Falabi Nurudeen has denied the alleged involvement in the attack, describing the allegation as unfounded.
According to him, “I was not aware of the attack whatsoever. The attack may have been masterminded by the APC itself. The attack was a friendly affair. I was informed that it happened between two friends. I was not in Ile-Ife, I had travelled for Eid-el-Kabir festival on the said day.”
He said it was an argument between PDP, APC friends which eventually led to disagreement and resulted to violence.
“It is not a party affair. It was purely a case of personal disagreement. The APC should stop falsehood. I don’t know anything about it,” he noted.
Falabi therefore, called on the people to stop attacking one another in the interest of peace, adding that there has been relative peace in the town.
