It was supposed to be the last lap of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s tour of the 33 local government areas in Oyo State. The Governor had used the political tour to assure the people of his unwavering commitment to give them quality governance that is devoid of violence.

But while the Governor was returning from Ido Local Government Area last Friday, news broke that hoodlums in South West Local Government Area which was to be the Governor’s last port of call, had ruptured the fragile peace in the state.

Although the Governor later met with some All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders and traditional rulers in the council, other activities that had been fixed for that day were put on hold.

Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that the violence which started at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan later spread like harmattan fire   to other parts of the city, including Born Photo, Popo Yemoja and Idi Arere.

Divergent accounts of what actually led to the cause of the mayhem were offered by those who spoke to VM. While some simply alleged that the violence was a mere intra-party crisis between the supporters of a member of the House of Representatives and a fellow who wants to unseat him, others said the Council is the stronghold of Accord Party which has emerged as one of the leading opposition parties in the state. They alleged that supporters of the party in the Council wanted to ensure that the Governor would not be welcomed.

The mayhem allegedly resulted in the death of four persons, including a Police Inspector who was killed at Oke Ado a day earlier. But the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, denied the casualty figure.

One of those who spoke with VM on the fracas, Mr. Okunola Ashimiyu, said: “We have not known peace in this area. Throughout yesterday (Saturday) night, I heard gunshots. At about 9:30am yesterday, the supporters of a politician came out and started causing problem in this area.

They said they molested their boss on Friday. That was how they started burning houses and destroying property at Born Photo, Isale Osi, Popo and Idi Arere. They burnt our house and the shops in front of it. I know the boys that set this house ablaze. I tried to put out the fire, but I could not. When the policemen came, they drove the hoodlums away. The policemen told me to call my neighbour to help in putting out the fire as the fire fighters did not come to this area,” he recounted.

The Chairman of Ibadan South-West Local Government, Mr. Taoreed Ade, said he received a distress call around 7am on the fateful day. “I think the security agencies should stay in this area till the next two weeks until those miscreants are apprehended. This will give assurance to people who have run away from the communities to return. I think the violence is the brainchild of the opposition parties to instil fear in the people so that they would sell their votes during the elections,” he alleged.

The Mogaji of Ile Laboo, Idi-Arere, Chief Bisi Shittu, who frowned at the incident said: “I feel really ashamed that while we are talking about peace and security in Oyo State, things like this could happen without anybody to stop these people. There has to be a concerted effort to ensure that people are secured in their houses. We just need to find a way to pacify people because they feel that some people were just trying to use their political might or whatever on them. We don’t want to see a situation that could be likened to what is happening in the North”.

The opposition parties have used the crisis to discredit the party in power, accusing it of not providing a peaceful environment for electioneering campaigns.

But the APC, through its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, alleged that the unfortunate incident was masterminded by some opposition elements in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Accord Party, AP and Labour Party, LP, who are desperately eyeing the Agodi Government House.

According to him, the opposition parties want the return of political violence, wanton killings and lawlessness to the state in their bid to hijack power at all cost.

“It is unfortunate that opposition elements in PDP, AP and LP have not left anyone in doubt of their exhilaration over the ugly incident of last Friday at Oke-Ado.

“The Friday violent attack was a clear case of sabotage aimed at discrediting the achievement of the present administration in the area of peace and security. To perfect their evil plans, another round of violence was unleashed on the residents of Born Photo, Popo Yemoja, Idi Arere and environs over the weekend.

In all of this, the opposition’s main goal is to create an atmosphere of insecurity and political unrest. But we are trusting the Police and relevant security agencies to dig deep and unmask the sponsors of the ugly violence in order to guard against re-introduction of barbarism and lawlessness into the politics of the pacesetter state,” he said.

The APC Chairman in the state, Chief Akin Oke said:  ”All evidences at our disposal point at a high-level gang-up by some politicians currently at large to embarrass the government and destroy the three and half years of peace that had been reigning in the state.

But Mr. Lanre Ogundipe of the AP warned the APC to stop blaming the opposition parties in the state for the violence. Also dismissing the allegation, the party’s Media Director, Prince Dotun Oyelade, also insisted that Governor Ajimobi must come back immediately from the trip he embarked on in the midst of the violence.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Kola Sodipo, has warned those fomenting trouble to desist from such ignoble acts or face the music.