1 feared killed in Oshodi as Hamburger supporters, rival APC members clash again

AGAIN, Oshodi and its environs were turned into a theatre of war by rival camps in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos State chapter over party primaries.

Major commercial activities were grounded as traders were forced to put their shops under lock, while commercial vehicle operators avoided one of the ever-busy commercial hub of Lagos metropolis.

The intra party battle which has raged since the killing of one of the major stakeholders of the APC in the area, Rasak Bellow (aka) Hamburger, boiled over on Saturday with members of the rival camps engaged in shootout.

At least one person was feared killed, as his loyalists clashed with members of rival camps in the APC over chairmanship and councilorship primaries ahead next month’s local government election in the state.

Sunday Tribune  gathered that a woman was hit by stray bullets as the two warring factions battled.

An eye witness who simply identified himself as Omoyele said, “The clash started when some guys who were believed to be sympathetic to Hamburger came to Oshodi.”

He added that “the gang insisted that they won’t allow the other group to continue to operate in Oshodi until the killers of Hamburger are arrested and prosecuted.”

The eye witness said that “a woman was hit by stray bullets while many people were injured before policemen came.”

The other group engaged them in a battle that sent commuters and traders in the area into different directions.

The clash continued late into the evening and was still on as at the time of filing this report

Meanwhile, tension was palpable in Bariga and environs as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares to release the party’s chairmanship and councilorship candidates for the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State.

Already, the much-disputed primary election of the party has claimed two lives in Oshodi area.

Violence had also trailed the move by the party leadership to impose one Kolade Alabi Davies as the party’s chairmanship candidate for Bariga.

Sunday Tribune learnt that the aggrieved party members who are demanding a primary election to choose the party’s flag bearer, are waiting for the release of the candidates’ list, before launching another round of massive protest if Davies’ name is announced as the consensus candidate.

A statement issued by Bariga Voice Forum, which Sunday Tribune obtained, accused the Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi-led electoral panel of a plot to steal a mandate.

The statement signed by its Secretary, Giwa Lanre states that, “Recall that the leadership of the party had concluded that the 18 former local council chairmen who had used/serve for one-term are to return for second term on an automatic ticket.

“On the 27th May, 2017, that the real primaries for the party APC were to take place, the aspirants and delegates from the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Area were to gather at the Teslim Balogun for the accreditation and to vote the candidate of their choice.

“On arrival of the party chairman, in the person of Chief Henry Ajomale, who declared the process open and advised that the whole thing should be peaceful and hitch free.

“Hence, Senator Tokunbo Afokuyomi took over as the chairman electoral committee in company of other committee members who included Honourable Oriyomi Sulaimon a.k.a. Oris, who was the former chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area.

“The committee which is expected to be unbiased as an umpire turned the whole process to a sham.”

“Immediately, after accreditation, the 18 anointed aspirants were adopted as standard bearers of the party for their respective council areas through the voice voting process.

“However, the delegates and aspirants of the remaining 39 local governments were warming up for proper primaries election in which Bariga Local Council Development Area is among.

“Senator Afikuyomi now continued with the voice voting process instead of the real primaries.

“This development led to mild protest from affected local government  areas like Mainland local government, Surulere local government, Badagry West (Olorunda Local Council Development Area), etc. It was during this time that Hon. Oriyomi Sulaimon a.k.a. Oris dragged Senator Afikuyomi to Bariga delegates compelling him to forcefully announce Mr Kolade Alabi Davies as the chairman, (who was the former executive secretary, three times vice-chairman) a move resisted by the delegates by shouting No! No! No! This further snowballed into a full blown violence, in which the electoral committee chairman was manhandled.

“There has since been pressure and tension in the length and breadth of the Bariga Local Council Development Area, which can lead to violence if not correct on time.”