Gunmen invade Osun PDP factional secretariat

FILE PHOTO

THERE was pandemonium in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Saturday, as gunmen allegedly invaded the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), located in Ogo-Oluwa, on Gbongan-Ibadan expressway.

Though, no life was lost in the incident, eyewitnesses informed Tribune Online that the crisis generated by the inconclusive ward congress organised by the party under the leadership of Chief Sarafa-led committee may have re-ignited the hostilities between the two factions within the opposition party.

The faction loyal to the former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has their office at Ogo-Oluwa, while the other faction loyal to Honourable Soji Adagunodo rented a three-storey building at Biket area of Osogbo.

Credible sources informed Tribune Online that some people suddenly stormed the party secretariat in Ogo Oluwa, firing gunshots into the air as some members who were holding a meeting in the one-storey building ran in different directions to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

But, police and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) were able to restore normalcy before the situation could degenerate.

Findings by Tribune Online indicated that about two weeks ago when the party held its ward congress in over 300 wards, constituting the 30 local governments in Osun State, there were issues in some local governments, including Osogbo-ward 6, 4 and 8; Ede South, Boripe and Irewole local government areas.

However, when contacted, the chairman, publicity arm of the PDP caretaker committee in Osun State, Honourable Bamidele Salam, confirmed that there was a fight in Ogo Oluwa secretariat, saying “there was a fight and DSS had to fire shots into the air in order to get somebody who was attacked away from the scene.

“Some people came to complain and there was a fight but you know the usual security strategy to scare people away. That was what happened. The caretaker committee chairman, Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola, was not attacked by gunmen. That is not true.”

S-Davies Wande