Pandemonium broke out on Friday in Ilora, Afijio local government area of Oyo State, as hoodlums suspected to be members of the opposition attacked the campaign train of the ADC governorship candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, vandalising several vehicles, and injuring many of his loyalists.
Lanlehin, who was on a tour of communities in the council area, had earlier campaigned at Iware, where ADC candidates for the zone, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Dr Maruf Akinwande, and Hon Solomon Adekunle, senatorial, house of reps and assembly candidates were presented to teeming party supporters.
Trouble started after Lanlehin mounted the podium, as the hoodlums began firing sporadic gunshots the way of supporters, leading many to run for cover, as several others sustained physical injuries. Several campaign buses belonging to Lanlehin were also vandalized.
Before the Ilora attack, Lanlehin had paid homage on the monarchs of Jobele, Oba Sunday Oyediran; Akinmoorin, Oba Iyiola Olayemi; and Aawe, Oba Abiola Taiwo, receiving royal blessings from the traditional rulers, who charged him to continue maintaining the good heritage inherited from his father, Chief Samuel Owoola Lanlehin, a committed progressive, and prominent Awoist.
On Lanlehin’s train was Amb Taofeek Arapaja, former Oyo State deputy governor, Chief Lowo Obisesan, Hon Wale Adegoke, and Wale Murphy. Also present were members of the state executive led by the State Secretary, Alh Wasiu Emiola.
Despite the attack, many of Lanlehin’s supporters who spoke with this newspaper expressed their readiness to continue spreading the agenda of good governance, welfarism and populism that Lanlehin represents, admitting today’s unprovoked attack was a sign Lanlehin had become the “candidate to beat” in the coming 2 March, 2019 governorship poll.
As at the time this report was gathered, the cause of the attack is yet to be ascertained.
