Nigerian Politicians Maim, Kill For Power (Part 1)
“NOBODY HAS POWER AND WILL GIVE IT TO YOU, NOT EVEN ME. THE POLITICIAN IN NIGERIA IS THERE TO STEAL, MAIM AND KILL TO REMAIN IN POWER” (Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor, Rivers State at Abuja, January 30, 2025 National Conference on ‘Strengthening Democracy In Nigeria,’ organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development)
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No fewer than six persons reportedly lost their lives on Monday as the dispute over the status of former local government chairmen of Osun State turned bloody, according to Nigerian Tribune of February 18, 2025.
“At least, two persons were feared killed in Iragbiji of Boripe Local Government Areas of Osun State, while several others wounded in other LGs in the state following the resumption of officials elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 15, 2022 LG elections in the state at the council secretariats.
Also, in Ikire of Irewole LGA, the APC council chairman, Remi Abass was shot dead by suspected political thugs.
In Ilesa, a former Commissioner for Works under Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Engineer Remi Omowaye narrowly escaped being killed as his vehicle was riddled with bullets while his office was set ablaze.
At Isokan local government, an APC councillor was killed and another party member also lost his life in Olaoluwa. The deceased is said to be the only casualty in the local government secretariat following the invasion by APC members to take possession of the council.
Investigations revealed that before his death, the councellor led some of his members to the secretariat, who shot sporadically into the air to scare people away from the area. However, another set of thugs reportedly engaged them in the secretariat, killing the councillor in the process.
Seeing that their leader was in the pool of his blood, his followers were said to have retreated, while their attackers gave them a hot chase. Meanwhile, in Ikire, APC members reportedly launched an attack on a cross section of PDP members, leading to the death of one.
Also, scores were injured during the free-for-all between the APC and PDP supporters while some managed to escape.
Several people were further injured across local government areas as the crisis rocking the state over controversy surrounding the Appeal Court judgment on the sacked local government chairmen snowballed into violence.
Anxiety and apprehension enveloped the length and breadth of the state following the invasion of some local government councils by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums attempting to take over the control of the councils.
Our reporter gathered that the hoodlums, who were armed with cutlasses, guns, machetes, axes, broken bottles and other dangerous items, displayed the weapons to register their presence in the invaded council areas and to get people scared.
Some of the councils, where the presence of the thugs was felt include: Ayedaade, Boripe, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ila, Isokan, Irewole, Obokun, and Atakumosa.
In Osogbo, heavy gunshots rent the air when PDP supporters and APC supporters clashed, while in Irewole local government in Ikire, there was a heavy clash between the PDP and APC supporters.
Speaking with newsmen on those that lost their lives in Iragbiji, the state commissioner for Protocol and government House, Honourable Soji Ajeigbe, gave the names of the casualties as Damilare Oloyede, and one other person simply identified as Taye, said to be thugs working for the APC.
He gave the names of the injured persons receiving treatment in the hospital to include: Taofek Opaleye, Tunde Oladejo, Yinka Opaleye, Yinka Babatunde, Ogunwole Abiodun, Babalola Muda and Opaniyi Adeniyi.
At the Olorunda local government secretariat, in Igbona, Osogbo, APC members that wanted to take over the council were resisted by the PDP members.
At the entrance of the secretariat, some hoodlums were seen dressed in traditional attires with charms, while efforts to record the scene with mobile phones were blocked.
Addressing PDP members near the secretariat, Osun State Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Gani Olaoluwa said: “We won’t allow any illegal takeover here. No court judgment restored them here”.
At Ifedayo local government area of the state, APC members who allegedly tried to take over the council but PDP supporters fired shots indiscriminately before the APC members were overpowered and given a hot chase out of the council.
At Ede North and Ede South, the APC supporters were resisted.
While confirming the killings in Isokan, Irewole and Olaoluwa Local Government Area, the immediate senior adviser to Oyetola on Education matter, Mr. Jamiu Olawumi described the incidents as barbaric.
He, however, said the APC has taken over 15 local councils out of 30 in the state.
Meanwhile, the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, debunked the accusation that he had a hand in the killing in Iragbiji.
He vowed: “By tomorrow, 30 of our chairmen will resume, whether anybody wants it or not. If you want to kill us, kill us. If you want to swallow our blood, swallow it.”
When contacted, Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola said, investigations are on going on the matter.”
