by S’ola Filani
A clash in Ilesa, Osun State, on Friday between supporters of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Rauf Aregbesola and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, claimed two lives and left many others injured.
Reports say supporters of the two men clashed at Irojo area of Ilesa using various dangerous weapons.
The APC, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, accused those it called PDP thugs of burning billboards of its governorship candidate and shooting sporadically, causing fear in residents of Ijoro.
“The APC condemns in strongest terms, the recourse to violence by desperate politicians in the PDP who have been boasting publicly to use every means, including federal might, to attempt to remove the APC from power in the state,” the party said
On his part, Omisore’s director of media and strategy, Mr Diran Odeyemi, accused the APC of instigating the violence in Ilesa and other parts of the state.
“Since the commencement of our rallies, we have not recorded any violence or breach of the peace. You will recall that Aregbesola had said at different campaign fora that Osun would march on blood if he fails to win the August 9 governorship poll.
“Out of desperation to win at all costs, Aregbesola had on four occasions called on voters to go to polling booths with charms and weapons and that they should also confront soldiers in defending their votes. So, what happened in Ilesa today may be a signpost of their planned violence before, during and after August 9, 2014,” Odeyemi said.
The spokesperson of the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Ayo Olowo, confirmed the clash but assured that normalcy had been restored.
I think the coming governorship election in osun state will definately decided the faith of people of the south west, if people are allowed to express the wishes of their mind and their vote is being reported as being cast, I think this will serve as a stepping forward towards a better goverance in the country and the winner and the looser will now go back home and draw up a better plan to make life more easier for the people they are governing
Its right time the masses have to sit down and think positively why the nigerian politician are desperate for position, if truly they are masses servant I don’t think they should take it do or die affair, definately they all have an hidden agenda, only God and good inpartial journalist can put us tru the right way,
For how long will our politicians ignite political fires & ignorant impoverished youths whose future is being mortgaged by these politicians blindfold themselves & jump into the inferno because of peanuts. Let Aregbesola & Omisore carry guns & fire one another because they know what they stand to gain if they survive, the common wealth of Osun state, so let no one sacrifice his life for a cause he will not be remembered for.