There’s no official report – Police
Fatai Olushina, coordinator of the Wale Akinterinwa (WA) Campaign Organization in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo state, has raised an alarm over an attempt on his life and other supporters of Wale Akinterinwa in Owo.
Akinterinwa is seeking the nomination of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the gubernatorial primary election slated for April 20.
It was gathered that some political hoodlums armed with sophisticated firearms and other dangerous weapons stormed Fatai-Lawal’s street in Ijebu-Owo around 10 p.m. yesterday and began shooting sporadically.
According to eyewitnesses, these political thugs, numbering around ten, arrived in a Siena bus allegedly branded by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation and wore the popular Ayedatiwa’s “red beret.”
Some residents of Ijebu-Owo, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the attackers, who included some well-known political thugs in Owo such as Tope Balogun a.k.a Nonso, Ayipada, Dedeigbo Stantely, and Sunday Adebayo a.k.a Biggy, were allegedly led by the LACO coordinator in Owo, Olayemi Adeyemi a.k.a Koko.
Speaking with a journalist, Lawa-Fatai, a former Special Assistant to the late Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, stated that the attackers’ goal was to create panic among the people ahead of Akinterinwa’s visit to Owo today.
“I was in Owo yesterday to make arrangements for our aspirant, Mr Wale Akinterinwa, who is visiting APC members in Owo today to canvass for votes ahead of the governorship primary on April 20.
“I left around 7 p.m. for Akure, and around 10 p.m., I began receiving calls from our people reporting that some political thugs had invaded our area and were shooting sporadically.
They also saw them shooting in front of my gate. Even people on my street expected them to force their way in, but they didn’t. Maybe someone told them that I’m not around.
“I immediately called the DPO and Director of DSS in Owo to report the incident. My people were scared because this was unusual for them.
“I am aware of their intention. They are aware and scared about the growing popularity of Akinterinwa in Owo. We held a meeting last Sunday, and the crowd was massive; they are aware that the people of Owo are preparing to march out in large numbers to receive Akinterinwa, who stood by their late son, Akeredolu, until his death.
“They want to scare our people so that they do not come out to welcome Akinterinwa, but I want to encourage them not to panic. They should come out to receive Akinterinwa. “This Owo belongs to us all, and no political thugs can drive us away.” Fatai-Lawal stated
However, he urged the police to look into the accusations made against LACO-FS supporters and, should they be found guilty, bring charges against them.
When contacted, the police public relations officer Funmilayo Odunlami said there was no official report of such incident in Owo.
The Spokesperson of LACO Foot Soldiers independent council, Mr Kayode Fasua said he was not aware of such attack and promised to get back to Roving Reporters as soon as he got any details.
