Scores injured as 2 APC lawmakers clash in Ibadan

From:	<eCruzi>

MANY people were, on Wednesday, injured as two serving members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Temitope Olatoye (a.k.a Sugar) and Honourable Abiodun Adigun-Hammed (a.k.a Murphy), representing Lagelu and Akinyele II constituencies, respectively, and their supporters, clashed in Ojoo, Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

Sources informed Nigerian Tribune that the lawmakers had been on each other's throat since both declared their interest to contest the House of Representatives ticket on the platform of the party in 2015.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that Honourable Adigun-Hammed had organised a programme for the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to meet with some spare parts sellers around the area, who, according to sources, had lamented neglect by the state government.

Honourable Adigun-Hammed, it was learnt, was set to receive Governor Ajimobi at the area, with the governor's advance team already on the ground.

Eyewitness further informed that Honourable Olatoye and his supporters were also on ground since 10.00 a.m. to welcome the governor in their branded attires, earlier before Murphy, who is the host, came around 3.00 p.m.

It was gathered that the arrival of Honourable Olatoye and his supporters almost forced Honourable Adigun-Hammed and the chairman, caretaker committee of Akinyele Local Government Area of the state to cancel the event, but the chairman warned that it will be suicidal for the party to cancel it at the 11th hour, saying their host may find it difficult to believe them.

The programme, it was later decided to continue, following the assurance from the executive members of the spare parts sellers association in the area.

With Ibadan popular fuji musician, Alhaji Rashidi Ayinde, on band stand, the pro-APC rally meant to boost the image of the party turned sour as lyrics from the musician, hailing Sugar, did not go down well with the host lawmaker and his supporters.

At that juncture, eyewitness informed that the two serving lawmakers clashed, leaving room for their supporters to follow suit.

Scores of APC supporters from the two camps were wounded as matchetes were freely used during the ensuing melee, while several valuables, including cars, were destroyed.

Traders and people nearby scampered for their lives as the politicians ran after themselves.

The news of the development, it was gathered, filtered through into the state secretariat through the advance team of the governor, who advised him to shun the event.

By Wednesday evening, Honourable Olatoye was around at the governor's office with his cloth stained with blood to formally report the incident.

Alhaji Ayinde, the musician, was also at the governor's office, to sue for peace between the two serving APC lawmakers.

Sources, however, informed that Governor Ajimobi had scheduled a peace meeting for 2.00 p.m today, to resolve the issue.