By Ola Ajayi

The bloody clash between two political parties believed to be the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord Party on Sunday in Ibadan which resulted in the death of three persons and left nine others seriously injured has clearly shown the level of intolerance among political parties in the state.

The violence started during a rally at Odinjo-Ode-Ige, Iyana Modina Area of Ibadan in Ibadan South-East Local Government, which was organized by Ademola Ige, a candidate of the House of Assembly and Gbenga Adewusi, candidate vying for a seat in the House of Representatives. Both are contesting on the platform of Accord Party.

Both candidates had been staunch supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and had served as   chairmen of local governments in the administration of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala before their defection to Accord.

According to an impeccable source, the rally started on a peaceful note until some rampaging hoodlums swooped on them and started shooting into the crowd.

The eye witness said the “thugs were carrying guns and other dangerous weapons when they stormed the campaign rally and opened fire on our supporters and killed two of them on the spot. 15 people sustained gunshot injuries, while unknown number of our supporters left with varying degrees of injuries.”

Two days after, the casualty figure rose to three as the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Musa  Katsina confirmed the death of another person who allegedly masterminded the attack. The police said the person was identified as ‘Ese Water’. So, as at now, three persons identified as Yusuf Ogeoju, Kehinde Akeem Bello and Sarafa Adedeji were killedfelled by bullets.

Accord accuses Governor Ajimobi
The casualty figure may rise later as the former Speaker, Mr. Adeolu Adeleke said several other people had life threatening gunshot injuries.

Adeleke, said were it not for the quick intervention of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad the number of casualties could have been more.

Giving further details on how the melee started, the former Speaker alleged that “three of the APC thugs were arrested with pump actions guns, while other members of the gang fled.
Even though, he did not provide any proof to back his claims, he was pointing accusing finger to Governor

Abiola Ajimobi saying, “As a party, we are shocked that Ajimobi could unleash agents of death on our peace-loving supporters and snuff life out of them without any provocation”.

He claimed that APC had threatened their candidates and supporters to prevent them from coming out openly to campaign.

“We believe Accord and other opposition parties must not be wickedly shut out of the democratic space by the ruling Ajimobi’s government and his party, APC. We are waiting for justice which must not be slow in coming. It is now clear that Oyo State has become a state of nature where life is short and brutish and where people have to lock their doors and the doors of their chests before sleeping.”