APC,PDP in blame game over APC rally shooting
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are engaged in a blame game over the shooting at a rally of the APC in Ekiti State.
Initial reports said a policeman allegedly shot into the crowd killing one person and injuring a few others including Opeyemi Bamidele, a former APC governorship aspirant. The APC in Ekiti are however accusing the Government of Ekiti State as been the mastermind of the shooting claiming their party’s governorship aspirant, Kayode Fayemi, was the target. Fayemi is the immediate past governor of Ekiti State.
Taiwo Olatunbosun , the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, in a statement on Friday, said the shooting was a clear case of assassination.
“One of the assailants dressed in mobile police uniform was apprehended and he is now helping the police in their investigation. They fired gunshots aimed at Fayemi but hit a former lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, after the former minister had taken a few steps forward before the bullets hit the target,” Olatunbosun said.
“Bamidele and other victims were immediately rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where doctors are responding to his treatment. Bamidele was fatally wounded in the attack while others also sustained various degrees of injuries.”
Reacting to the allegations of the APC, spokesman for the Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation, Lere Olayinka, said blame for the shooting should be blaced squarely on Fayemi and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who he said invaded invaded Ekiti State with armed policemen and thugs, throwing the State that has been peaceful since the advent of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s government into bloodshed.
“Akeredolu led the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to Ekiti in a show of federal might and in the process, seven people were hit by police bullets.
“At the APC secretariat, one of the mobile policeman, was said to be using his gun to push away the thugs brought from Ondo State and the hoodlums in turn dragged the gun with him, leading to sporadic shootings that left six persons shot. One of those injured was Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele. Five others also had gunshot injuries,” Olayinka.
Olayinka said APC thugs backed by armed policemen later went on rampage at Ojumose area of Ado Ekiti, destroying the canopies and chairs in front of the residence of late Prince Adegoke.
“One of the Teargas canisters fired by the policemen hit a Taxi driver, Odeyemi Olumide badly injuring him. He is now receiving treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, alongside five others who were shot at the APC secretariat. As usual, the APC went to town with story that the policeman who fired the shots at the party secretariat was fake. However, information available to us is that the policeman was brought from Ondo State by Governor Akeredolu. Consequently, we challenge the Police authority to release the identity of the police officer to the public and how he left Akure for Ado Ekiti,” Olayinka stated.
He hinted at the possibility of the APC trying to assassinate the policeman so as to sustain their lie that he is fake.
“We make bold to say that Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State and Dr Fayemi must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State. We are aware of their mobilisation of thugs from Ondo State to Ekiti for the July 14. The governor even reportedly boasted that he was ready to spend two months allocation of Ondo State on Fayemi’s election.
“The first manifestation of Governor Akeredolu’s plot to ensure that Ekiti is taken by force was the bloodshed witnessed in the state today. Lastly, let Governor Akeredolu and his stooge, Kayode Fayemi know that Ekiti is not a state to be taken by force and annexed to Ondo State by anyone, our people will resist the APC agents of bloodshed,” Olayinka said in the statement.
