As the ancient city of Ibadan prepares to host the Presidential Campaign Rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) this Tuesday, the Oyo state chapter of the party has revealed an alleged plan by the ruling People’s Democratic Party to carry out coordinated attacks on members of the public who are warming up to receive Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team.
There are clear indications that the Oyo state turn of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Rally earlier slated for January 7, 2023 will now take place at Mapo Hall, Ibadan this Tuesday. The event is expected to be attended by Senator Bola Tinubu, his vice presidential candidate, Sen. Kassim Shettima, APC national chairman, Sen. Abdullah Adamu, Gov. Simon Lalong as well as governors of APC extraction across the 36 states among other political bigwigs in the country.
Oyo APC, in a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, explained that its decision to go ahead with the Tuesday rally despite the crisis occasioned by the biting effects of fuel and naira notes scarcity being experienced by the masses “was borne out of the desire to shame some anti-democratic forces who are bent on truncating the chances of Sen. Bola Tinubu at the poll.
“We have uncovered the satanic plot by the PDP in the state to unleash its home-grown terrorists against members of the public who might want to troop out and welcome Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to Ibadan on Tuesday. The execution of the said plot, which is aimed at discrediting the peaceful conduct of the rally, has been put in the hands of a close aide to Gov. Seyi Makinde (names withheld)and the Chairman of the State Park Management System, Mr. Mukaila Lamidi (a.k.a Auxiliary).
“Impeccable sources have it that Lamidi has been given a huge sum to enable him mobilize his boys and equip them with dangerous weapons with which they would attack defenceless people at random to create fear and panic on Tuesday. Among places designated for the unprovoked attacks are; Iwo Road, Agugu, Monatan, Alakia, Labiran, Molete, Challenge, Ojoo, Sanngo and few other places in Ibadan. In the same vein, the leadership of the PMS has been directed to order commercial bus owners and drivers to withdraw their vehicles from the road on the rally day to frustrate people coming from outside Ibadan.
“We could have ignored the threat of violence coming from the PDP but for their unenviable record of brigandage and senseless killing. Just last week, the same set of people inflicted pains and agony on the whole of Igangan town in Ibarapa North Local Government Area when Gov. Makinde led his team from Ibadan on a campaign tour of the area which recorded fatalities. We recall that the criminal elements who obviously enjoy the backing of the state government have been fingered in some cases of violence in which some lives were lost while others received varying degrees of injury.
“A prelude to the execution of the evil plan was recorded on Saturday when one Riliwan Lamidi (son to Mukaila Lamidi Auxiliary) led a team of thugs to attack some private citizens employed to install campaign billboards of Tinubu/Shettima around Iwo Road interchange in Ibadan. The notorious gang shot sporadically at the their target whose only sin was tied to working with the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Sen. Teslim Folarin.
“Also, we have good information regarding the sponsorship of violent protests in major parts of Ibadan by Oyo PDP this Monday (today). However, we are using this medium to assure members of the public especially patriots and supporters of Asiwaju to come out enmasse as adequate security is being worked out to guarantee safety of lives and properties while we also appeal for calm in view of the prevailing circumstance in the country as the moment of renewed hope is almost here.” APC stated.