Valuables, including vehicles and other property worth millions of naira, were destroyed on Saturday when suspected political thugs launched coordinated attacks on the private residence of former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi, at Asi in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan.
Gbolarumi is a chieftain of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled to hold its nationwide state congress on Saturday.
Investigation revealed that no fewer than ten people sustained injuries of varying degrees in separate incidents across the state.
However, when contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the attack had nothing to do with the party’s state congress.
He said, “A yet-to-be-identified hoodlums launched attacks on the residence of the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi. The coordinated attacks have nothing to do with the state congress.”
The police spokesperson said the incident was under investigation and that appropriate action would be taken against the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the chairman of one of the party factions in the state, Abdulrahman Akinoso, said similar attacks were recorded in other parts of Oyo State.
He said incidents were reported in Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, Akinyele, and Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area.
“At least ten people sustained injuries during the violence, while several vehicles were damaged at various locations across the state,” he said.
Akinoso disclosed that three vehicles were vandalised at Gbolarumi’s residence on Are Avenue in the Bodija area of Ibadan, where members of the faction had gathered for the congress exercise.
The attacks have heightened tensions within the party as rival factions continue to struggle for control of the party structure in the state.
In another development, stakeholders of the PDP in Ogbomoso rejected what they described as attempts by some individuals to organise a congress and inaugurate factional executive members in the area and other parts of the state.
The party leaders warned that any move to constitute a parallel executive would not be recognised, insisting that the PDP structure in the state remains united under the leadership of Seyi Makinde.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, the stakeholders said they were aware of alleged clandestine plans by certain individuals to conduct unauthorised congresses aimed at installing factional party executives.
“We are aware of the clandestine move by some elements to hold a congress and inaugurate factional executive members in Ogbomoso and other parts of the state,” the statement read.
The stakeholders warned that such actions could destabilise the party if not properly addressed, stressing that the party in the state had continued to enjoy relative unity.
“We are solidly loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership and will not accept any form of factional executive in the state.”
They also warned that individuals allegedly working to destabilise the party’s stability should be prepared to face the consequences of their actions.
The stakeholders urged party members to remain calm and resist attempts to divide the party, reiterating their commitment to the stability and progress of the PDP in Ogbomoso and across Oyo State.
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