Tension in Ekiti Ahead of December LG Poll

Gbenga Sodeinde writes that crisis is brewing in some parts of Ekiti State as the state gets set for the local government election in December, 2023.

The reported attack on some party stalwarts of the All Progressive  Congress (APC) recently in Efon Local Government area of Ekiti State by alleged rival party caucus of the party allegedly loyal to Hon. Oladapo Karounwi, is already creating tension ahead of the forthcoming local government polls scheduled for December, 2023 in the state.

Findings by THISDAY revealed that no fewer than four persons, including a businessman, Chief Bode Olayinka (BOS), were wounded during an attack on their family house on Monday, July 31 in Efon.

It was also gathered that property and goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed by the assailants who allegedly swooped on their victims while they were relaxing in front of their family house.

One of the victims of the alleged political attack, Mr. Olaitan Olayinka who is an aspirant for the forthcoming  Efon Local Government poll, accused a rival party caucus member, Gbenga Oluwafemi nicknamed Owolesu of leading a gang of hoodlums to attack him and members of his family at their family house in Efon.

He also claimed that the hoodlums destroyed some of their property and the goods in his warehouse worth millions of Naira.

Olayinka further disclosed that Owolesu is now cooling off in police custody after he was arrested by some military personnel who came to their rescue during the heinous attack.

His words: “The attack on us was not unconnected with an attempt by a group of party members who are loyal to one of the leaders in the local government, Hon. Oladapo Karounwi, to  silence other aspirants so as to impose his preferred candidates on the people ahead of local government election coming up in December this year.

“Our attackers were more than 20 and they carried dangerous weapons such as  cutlasses, dane gun and others to attack us in front of their family house while we were relaxing on Monday evening.

“I am younger brother to Chief Bode Olayinka,(BOS). I am an event planner staying in Efon after my retirement as a civil servant. I’m interested in contesting for the chairmanship of my local government area here in Efon.

“And this time around, they are saying, they don’t want any other aspirant to contest against Hon. Karounwi Oladapo’s preferred candidate who happens to be his personal driver, one Niyi Babalola, but I have insisted that I will contest and win because there is a freedom of association, it is my legal right to contest and that anyone who emerges during the primary election of the party will be supported by all.

“But, on 31st of July, 2023 during a masquerade event in Efon, the thugs had wanted to forcefully remove a cap I did as part of my political awareness strategies ahead of the poll from one of my supporters, Mr. Boboye Olamilekan aka Jekomo, and when the guy refused to surrender it, they descended on him, beat him mercilessly and tore his clothes.

“Immediately the boy came to report to me, I begged him that I don’t want to fight with anybody now since election is still far ahead and I put a call across to Chief Jeje who happens to be one of the APC stalwarts and elders in Efon to inform him about the development.

“Chief Jeje later called back to inform me that he has warned the leader of the group, Oluwafemi(Owolesu) to henceforth stop the nonsense he was doing.

“I thought everything was settled, but around 8pm, my brother Chief Bode Olayinka, my sister, Mrs. Jumoke Oladaiye, all of us of the  same parents and others, were sitting in front of our family house taking some drinks and pepper soup when we saw the group led by Gbenga Oluwafemi again moving round the streets and they came to us and ordered all of us to leave the place. We were just looking at him in amazement.”

“One boy then questioned his authority to give such order, insisting that he bought the drinks and that no one could just ask him to leave because he came there to enjoy himself.

“We called the police in Efon but they couldn’t come. They said the boys will attack them. But the military personnel later arrested the leader of the gang, Gbenga Oluwafemi (Owolesu), and handed him over to the police.”

Olayinka said four of the wounded victims were at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti to make a formal statement with the police.

While blaming the unfortunate incident on Karounwi, the APC chieftain said  the commissioner’s alleged support for them had been causing a lot of crises within the APC in Efon Local Government Area of the State.

He called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to intervene and save his family members and party leaders from further attacks that can lead to serious political crisis in the area.

All attempts to confirm the development from the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu, proved abortive as calls put across to him were not picked as at the time of filing this report.

However, a source from the Police Headquarters confirmed that Oluwafemi (Owolesu) is being detained at the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Unit in Ado Ekiti.

But when contacted on phone, Karounwi who denied the allegation vehemently, said he was no where near Efon during the attack and could not even understand why such attack should take place.

The former Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State  House of Assembly, also dismissed allegations by Olayinka as one of the lies cooked up to smear his image being a political bigwig in the state.

He said: “It was all cooked up lies to frame me up. I don’t know anything about it, I was never anywhere near Efon during the attack, In fact, l don’t know anything about it. All these are antics being  orchestrated to blackmail me and  bring me down but they will fail”.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have expressed worry about the attack wondering why caucuses  within the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) should resort to violence in order to win elections.

But in a swift reaction, the former APC chairman in Ekiti State and current Political Adviser to Governor Oyebanji, High Chief Jide Awe said the incident may not be unconnected with a beer parlour disagreement which later escalated into violence, contrary to what is generally believed was a political matter.

He, however, frowned at the ugly incident while promising to get to the root of the matter.

Awe who spoke with THISDAY in his office at Ado Ekiti said even though the Governor was not around when the incident happened he immediately swung into action in company of the Deputy Chairman of the party and visited the victims and every other person involved.

His words:”I visited Efon Alaaye myself and to reassure of our commitment to peace and tranquility. I can assure that the matter may not be political as some are Insinuating but from my findings it appears some people harbour animosity against one another for a very long time  and even if it is political we still condemn such acts in its entirety.

“We don’t condone violence and if it is about the local government elections then that is a mistake, because it is still far away in December and the party is yet to release modalities that will serve as guidelines for the local government elections, we therefore call for peace and let peace reigns”.