The Oyo State Police Command has launched an investigation into the attack on the residence of a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, following violence that erupted after the Peoples Democratic Party state congress in Ibadan on Saturday.
Suspected political thugs were said to have invaded Gbolarumi’s residence in the Asi area of Ibadan North Local Government Area, damaging vehicles and other property valued at millions of naira.
Gbolarumi, a leading figure in one of the factions within the PDP in the state, said the attack happened shortly after the party concluded its congress.
He also disclosed that a number of party supporters sustained injuries in separate incidents linked to rising political tension in different parts of the state.
Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday night, the former deputy governor accused Governor Seyi Makinde of being behind the attack.
“That is what Seyi did. He is an opposition in the same PDP. Immediately after we finished our congress and were heading home, those boys arrived with guns and cutlasses and attacked us,” he alleged.
When asked how he concluded that the attackers were connected to the governor, Gbolarumi said video recordings captured some of the suspects during the incident.
“They filmed them. They are only deceiving themselves. Our supporters were also attacked in Igbo-Ora and Ibarapa. The cameras will reveal the truth. They came with about 15 buses carrying nearly 200 thugs,” he claimed.
He further stated that similar incidents were reported in other locations across the state, leaving several party members injured.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State chapter of the PDP, Michael Ogunsina, rejected the allegation, maintaining that the party leadership had no link to the incident.
Ogunsina suggested that the violence might have been the result of a disagreement between Gbolarumi and some individuals he allegedly engaged for what he described as a “so-called fake congress.”
“We are not aware of such involvement. It is unfortunate that this happened. Our state has moved away from political violence, and it is regrettable that such an incident occurred,” he said.
He added that information available to the party suggested that the former deputy governor had planned to pay some individuals he allegedly hired for the congress, but a dispute over payment may have triggered the destruction of property at his residence.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Oyo State Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed that the police had commenced an investigation into the matter.
“I am yet to receive information that the former deputy governor was personally attacked or injured, but I am aware that the incident happened at his residence. Investigation has begun and necessary steps will be taken,” Ayanlade said.
