Three members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State on Monday suffered bullet wounds from a clash between alleged loyalists of Governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi and member of the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele at Iyin-Ekiti, again underlining feelings of rancour in the ruling party in the state.
Bamidele has never hidden his interest for the governorship seat but the party hierarchy had made several attempts to dissuade him from contesting against the incumbent governor in the next election or even seeking the mandate through any other party as he had boasted earlier.
The clash started on Friday between supporters of Bamidele, representing Ekiti Federal Constituency and Dipo Akinwumi, a staunch supporter of the governor during the burial ceremony of Felicia Akinwumi, mother of Mr. Akinwumi.
As a result, the offices of Bamidele and Akinwunmi were vandalised by the rampaging loyalists who injured several people in the process. Seven people have so far being arrested while Bamidele has continued to push the blame of the violence on the supporters of Governor Fayemi. He said the group loyal to the Governor was allegedly led by Deji Adesokan, Special Assistant on Internal Security to Fayemi.
According to Bamidele, the governor had become desperate to break the mass support (Bamidele) has received from the people over the years. In a statement signed by his media assistant, Ahmed Salami, the House of Representatives member said the three people shot were Ola Fatokun (shot in the hand), Rasaki Bello (shot in the stomach), and Ige Adeola, (shot in the back).
He said the latest violence was the handiwork of “Adesokan (popularly known as Jarule) and Tajudeen Awe,” another aide to Fayemi.
“More than 10 people were wounded with a total of six cars destroyed in a Gestapo like operation by the anti-people’s army obviously being funded under the command of Deji Adesokan and Major Tajudeen Awe,” he said.
“In a most daring manner, the Jarule and Awe led terror machine moved from Iyin Ekiti straight to Honourable Michael Opeyemi Bamidele’s campaign office in Ado Ekiti and completely vandalised the office, causing inestimable damages.”
He added that the alleged act of terror happened in broad day light at a time that the nation “is enforcing a state of emergency to stem the perpetration of terrorism and guarantee the security of lives and property in some other parts of the country.”
Bamidele declared that he would not be dissuaded or frustrated from contesting the 2014 governorship election, saying he is determined “by grace of God to run a decent, issue-based, people-friendly and scientific campaign that would clearly show that we have the maturity, the cognate experience, courage, divine favour and strength of character that is needed to fill the leadership vacuum and rally all stakeholders together to move Ekiti forward.”
