From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan
Alhaji Salau Salimon Alade, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the campaign organisation for House of Representatives candidate in Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela, was on Sunday killed after a rally held at Ido Local Government Area of the state.
Unknown thugs were said to have attacked shortly after the State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, left the rally.
The thugs reportedly shot Alhaji Alade, and left other party members with varying degrees of injuries.
Olowofela’s Omi-Adio residence was also touched with no fewer than six vehicles including two branded hummer buses (belonging to the legislative arm, Omi-Apata LCDA and Ido LG APC) destroyed.
The campaign office which has become a beehive of activities in the past few months was also vandalized.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Comrade Idowu Ayodele, Olowofela condemned the attack as well as previous ones on his campaign properties.
He accused the opposition of trying to use violence to intimidate voters in Ibarapa East /Ido constituencies ahead of the February 16 elections.
According to the statement, Olowofela, a former Commissioner for Education said: “I was surprised with the degree of damage done by these criminals, but it confirms our resounding victories as a party and further proven that I remain the people’s choice.”
He continued: “The oppositions should endeavour to endear themselves to the good people of Ibarapa East/Ido Federal constituency, through humane and civilized manner, rather than resort to desperate tactics that threaten the lives and property of the citizens”.
While commending the Omi-Adio Divisional Police Headquarters for its quick response, Olowofela, however, demanded that the perpetrators of the crime and their sponsors be brought to book no matter how highly placed.
He called on party faithfuls, supporters and the people of Ibarapa East/Ido Federal constituency to remain calm and law abiding.