APC Crisis: 8 injured as thugs invade APC meeting in Ogun

Simmering crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State took a frightening dimension, on Thursday, as suspected political thugs invaded a venue of the stakeholders meeting organised by Senator Gbenga Obadara, at Wasinmi area of the state.

The incident saw eight persons injured, including Obadara’s police orderly, Sunday Akinbode, who was shot at his upper thigh.

Obadara, a member of the National Assembly representing Ogun Central senatorial district, had organised a stakeholders’ meeting and commissioning of one of his constituency projects before the incident occurred.

It was gathered that the incident happened when the hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, invaded the venue and unleashed terror on party members who had gathered at the venue.

The hoodlums were alleged to have freely used weapons, including sophisticated guns, clubs, daggers, among others.

The situation became chaotic as people, including journalists who had gone to cover the event, scampered for safety.

Those who escaped death by whiskers were Senator Akin Odunsi, Honourables Olumide Osoba and Adekunle Adeyemi, while the injured were rushed to Mercy Hospital, Abeokuta.

Senator Obadara alleged that the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, masterminded the attack, because of the frosty relationship between him and the APC National Assembly caucus.

He said that the attack was launched on his supporters and himself before the commencement of the meeting, adding that his orderly and several others were unlucky as they were hit by bullets.

Reacting, however, Amosun denied complicity in the alleged attack.

In a statement signed by one of his media aides, Sola Balogun, the governor condemned the attack in its entirety.

He, however, regretted the attempt to link him or any of his loyalists to the violence, in order to score political points.

Amosun condemned all acts of violence against any citizen of Ogun, adding that “the news of the alleged attack was shocking to me. All the leaders of APC, as well as chairmen of our local councils were in Lagos to celebrate Baba Bisi Akande.

“It is even more curious that some chieftains of our party would choose a time to honour our revered leader for another meeting. The motive is certainly questionable,”

Amosun added that the party leader in the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was at the event with him and wondered the intention of the National Assembly members that convened the said political meeting.

He commiserated with the victims of the alleged violence, including the journalists and called on the police to bring the perpetrators to book and sustain the atmosphere of peace in the state.