Ekiti shooting: Bamidele not in coma ―Aide

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and governorship aspirant in the party, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, is not in a coma but is recuperating from the injuries and trauma after being shot, on Friday.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Ahmed Salami, said it was to “dispelled the insinuation that he had been in coma since Friday evening when he was hit by bullets at the rally organised for Dr Kayode Fayemi, by the party.”

Salami said in the statement that “Bamidele and six others were hit by bullets and sustained various degrees of injuries through gunshots fired by a policeman drafted to maintain orderliness in the rally attended by the mammoth crowd of party adherents and admirers of the governorship candidate of the party.”

He said although Bamidele, a former member of the House of Representatives “immediately fell and passed out due to the trauma he suffered when the bullets suddenly pierced his abdominal region and leg,” he was now stable and responding to treatment.

He said: “We appreciate his supporters and APC members across the state and I am glad to disclose that Hon. Bamidele had since regained consciousness and gradually stabilising.

“The way he fell in the full glare of the crowd and party supporters fuelled the insinuation that he is still in a coma.

“Let me assure our supporters in Ekiti and other concerned Nigerians that Bamidele is not in a coma.

He has regained consciousness and fasts recuperating due to prompt and intensive medical treatments he received thereafter.

“It is true that he had passed through major surgeries and the bullets have been removed from his abdominal region and leg. We implore our supporters to be calm and law-abiding whilst the situation is under control.

“We appreciate our people for the outpouring of affections since the incident occurred and this underscored the strong bond of unity among the APC members and Ekiti people in general.

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“We want to say that the shooting was very unfortunate and unwarranted in view of the decorous and peaceful ways our people comported themselves from Akure, Ondo State capital via Ikere and to Ado Ekiti.

“We charge the police authorities to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the shooting and bring whoever that was complicit to justice for a country that has respect for the sanctity of human lives to be attainable.

“We especially appreciate the governor of Ondo State, Barrister Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his wife Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Ayo Arise and other party bigwigs for the quick responses in saving Bamidele’s life and that of other victims.”