The Oyo State Police Command has begun an investigation into an attack on the residence of a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, following violence linked to the Peoples Democratic Party state congress held in Ibadan on Saturday.
Suspected political thugs reportedly stormed Gbolarumi’s residence in the Asi area of Ibadan North Local Government Area, destroying vehicles and other valuables estimated to be worth millions of naira.
Gbolarumi, a chieftain of a faction within the PDP, said the incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of the party’s state congress.
He added that several members of the party sustained injuries in separate incidents connected to political tensions in parts of the state.
Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday night, the former deputy governor alleged that the attack was orchestrated by supporters loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde.
“That is what Seyi did. He is an opposition in the same PDP. After we concluded our congress and were heading home, those boys came with guns and cutlasses to attack us,” he claimed.
When asked how he linked the attackers to the governor, Gbolarumi said some of the suspects were captured in video recordings.
“They recorded them. They are deceiving themselves. Our members were also attacked in Igbo-Ora and Ibarapa.
The camera will reveal the truth. They came in about 15 buses with nearly 200 thugs,” he alleged.
According to him, similar attacks were reported in other parts of the state, leaving several party members injured.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State PDP, Michael Ogunsina, dismissed the allegation, insisting that the party leadership had no involvement in the incident.
Ogunsina suggested that the violence may have resulted from a dispute between Gbolarumi and some individuals he allegedly hired for what he described as a “purported fake congress.”
“We are not aware of it. It is unfortunate that such an incident happened. Oyo State has moved past political violence, and it is regrettable that this occurred,” he said.
He added, “I understand that Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi was meant to pay some individuals he hired for the purported congress.
It is possible that disagreement over payment led to the destruction of property at his residence.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed that the police had commenced investigations into the incident.
“I am not yet aware that the former deputy governor was attacked or injured, but I know that the incident occurred at his residence. Investigation has begun, and appropriate actions will be taken,” Ayanlade said.