Palliatives: I was Assaulted by Ondo Commissioner, Says Suspended APC Chair

Fidelis David in Akure

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko North West Ward 1, Olumide Awolumate, yesterday said the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Bunmi Osadahun, was the first to assault him during the distribution This is just as the APC in the state suspended the Arigidi/Iye Ward 1 chairman indefinitely.

Awolumate, while explaining the reasons for his altercation with the government official, said the commissioner invaded his home with her son, a police officer and another young man to arrest him. While he never resisted arrest, the commissioner’s son confronted him and attacked him.

Awolumate, however, said the confrontation resulted in a fracas which lasted for some minutes with her son, who accompanied her, beating him, he had to defend himself.

Narrating the incident, the APC ward chairman said: “What happened was that we had a meeting at the local government level at the house of a leader, Pa Akeju. We talked about the party, in which the Commissioner for Women Affairs talked about the palliatives that was distributed sometimes ago.

“The commissioner disclosed that the palliatives had been given to different sectors, and at that juncture, I raised my hand as the ward chairman of the party, and indicated that the 10 bags that were supposed to be in my custody did not get to me. I noted that some groups had been given, which included, PDP, artisans and other groups, while ours should be sent to me.

“I raised this in the presence of all the leaders of the party, and the commissioner objected to it saying she was the head of that committee at the state level, but I objected my non-inclusion in the sharing of the palliative, as I was not invited. This led to an argument, and I was prevailed upon to leave the meeting. While at home with my family playing Ludo game, I saw the commissioner in company of her son and a police officer.”

According to Awolumate, “Her son pounced on me from behind and started hitting me, but I could not sit and fold my arms to allow him to continually hitting me in the presence of my wife, children and friends. I stood up and fought him back, as I was fighting him, the commissioner joined her son to fight me.

 “She started beating and tearing my cloth in the process. She threw a chair at me, and in retaliation, I took the chair and threw it back at her.

“To my surprise, I started seeing videos circulating. Anybody that studies the video would see that it has been doctored and edited, it was so short, it was a planned work, they knew what they were coming to do in my house, as they have arranged for somebody to video the scene, I never expected such.”

He, however, attributed the friction between him and the commissioner to anti-party activities, saying: “The woman was involved in anti-party activities in the last state Assembly election. His son was the coordinator of a particular candidate in PDP, the woman was actively involved in their campaign, they used her official vehicle to go round the town and campaign for PDP, and this did not go down well with party faithful from the ward.”

Nonetheless, the state APC has suspended Awolumate indefinitely.

A statement Issued by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alex Kalejaye, noted that the leaders and stakeholders  of the party in Akoko North West Local Government Area of the state met in Okeagbe, where the decision was taken, and communicated to the state Chairman, Ade Adetimehin.