Kolade Larewaju
31 December 2008
THE crisis rocking the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, yesterday, escalated into a bloodbath as three persons lost their lives as two factions of the ruling party clashed in Abeokuta.
Ten other persons were severely injured in the fracas.
One of those killed was one Mr. Ahmed Wahab.
Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area, Alhaji Tele Ogunjobi, escaped death by the whiskers as gunmen fired indiscriminately at the state party secretariat where a meeting had been called to solve the crisis in the local government area.
There has been a running battle for the leadership of the party in the local government as a result of alleged plans by chairman of the party in the area, Alhaji Al-Bashir Adebajo, to probe the Council boss.
In a bid to resolve the crisis, the leadership of the party was said to have summoned the two factions led by the local government chairman, Alhaji Ogunjobi, on the one hand, and the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Adesegun Adekoya, on the other.
The meeting was earlier scheduled to hold in Ijebu-Igbo on Monday but was moved to the party secretariat for "security reasons."
Trouble, however, started around 11 a.m. yesterday, shortly after the commencement of the meeting when some gun-wielding hoodlums in a passenger bus stormed the party secretariat along Oke-Imosan road, firing indiscriminately. The vehicle is said to belong to a transportation company owned by a top government functionary.
Three persons were cut down in the hail of bullets while some other persons received matchet cuts.
It was a survival of the fittest as people ran helter skelter while others including the local government chairman took refuge in some of the offices within the secretariat complex while the gun battle lasted.
There was confusion in many offices around the area as workers took to their heels while some of the party loyalists had to seek refuge in some of the offices away from the rampaging hoodlums.
State PDP chairman, Chief Joju Fadairo, and the state Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Bukonla Olopade, were said to have brought the situation under control when they arrived the place.
But the Director of Organisation, Mr. Deji Kalejaiye, however said what happened at the secretariat were "skirmishes," and that he was not aware of any shot being fired.
Explaining what happened, Mr. Kalejaiye said: "The problem can be traced to the disciplinary committee of Ijebu North that was set up over the indiscipline prevalent in the area and it was to sit in Ijebu-Igbo.
"But because of the tension there, they sought the permission to hold the sitting in the secretariat and we obliged.
The council chairman got here with his people with heavy mobilisation and the secretariat was well secured. "We were inside the secretariat and we did not hear any shot, but there were some skirmishes here," he said.
Ogun State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Oladipo Ayeni, however, declined comments, saying: "I know something like that happened. But I am not in town now and cannot give you the details. I suggest you see me later tomorrow and I will be able to talk you."
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