The lawmaker representing Oyo South (Ibadan/Ibarapa) senatorial district, Sen. Adesoji Akanbi, has expressed over the political violence that disrupted the peace of the ‘silent Ibarapaland.’
Akanbi, who is seeking a second term on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, said it was so sad that violence occurred at a political rally organized by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
He berated the ruling party for accusing the opposition, saying that “blaming the opposition for such an unfortunate incident by those who should see to the protection of lives and property is a knock on the acclaimed achievements on security.”
Two people were killed while several others got injured at Igboora, headquarters of Ibarapa Central local government, when the APC took its campaign to the three local government in Ibarapa.
Expressing condolences to families of those who lost their lives to the incident, Akanbi urged Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who is the senatorial candidate of the APC in February 16th, 2019 election to look for every possible means to rid the state of all forms of hooliganism.
A statement from his media office reads: “I was shocked and disturbed getting to know about the unfortunate incidents. The people of Ibarapaland, despite the obvious neglect by the current administration, have been calm, waiting for the coming election until tragedy strict yesterday.
“As I have always emphasized, politicians should desist from the habit of empowering our people with dangerous objects. Apart from the havoc they wreck during electioneering process, they become dangerous to the society as they don’t get to return the ammunition they are equipped with during election.
“These are youth who have nothing to do as they seem to have been abandoned in he last 8 years. The only developmental project that proposed for the area was a cattle ranch.
“Our people should be empowered with things that can add meaning to their lives and society. Nobody is safe with the way things are going. We need to save these young ones so as to enjoy our old age, in peace.
“More worrisome is the fact that this dastardly act was allegedly carried out in the presence of the the chief security officer of the state. There is no amount of blame game that can erase what has happened. This points to something; security issues are not addressed as and when due.
“The Governor should empower security agencies to fish out those who are behind the ugly incident,” the statement added.
