The All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwara State chapter has called on Kwara State Police Command to immediately commence investigation into the sporadic shootings which subjected Ilorin residents to humiliation and fear of terror on Sunday by political thugs who are in the entourage and convoy of Kwara State PDP governorship candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola.
In a statement issued in Ilorin on Monday by the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the party described the incident which occurred along Niger Street, in Ilorin as unfortunate and a threat to public peace.
“We are shocked by the unfortunate incident that happened in Ilorin today (Sunday).
The unfortunate incident happened when thugs in the convoy of PDP governorship candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola engaged in sporadic shootings and brandishing of guns and rifles thereby causing stampede and people running for their dear lives. It is necessary to note that the breach of peace being enjoyed by people of kwara state by the thugs of the PDP gubernatorial candidate was unwarranted and uncalled for. According to residents of Niger area of Ilorin, the incident will remain a trembling experience in their lifetime.
“It is quite important to mention that the convoy of Senator Ajibola followed the convoy of a PDP Chieftain, Mr Dele Belgore whose supporters also engaged in the shooting spree.
“The good people of Kwara State should note that the peace agreement, tagged “Ilorin Accord”, which was signed at INEC headquarters in Ilorin by 15 political parties and their governorship candidates including the PDP and Senator Ajibola has been finally betrayed and broken by Senator Ajibola and his party.
“There is a clearer indication that Senator Ajibola is a sponsor of violence and thuggery in the state going by the fact that political thugs which are in his convoy, causing mayhem without provocation, engaged in sporadic shootings and brandishment of guns and rifles thereby subjecting the residents of Ilorin to trembling fear and intimidation .
“It bears repeating that the PDP governorship candidate started his campaign on a violent note and the PDP has never hidden its penchant for violence. The recent formation of war council by the PDP shows the readiness of the PDP to pursue and coordinate violence before, during and after the 2015 general elections.
“We have these questions and many more for Senator Ajibola: Why did Senator Ajibola subject the people he seeks to govern to that nature of trembling experience? Senator Ajibola should tell Kwarans why his thugs without provocation engaged in sporadic shootings which arrested the peace of the entire stretch of Niger area on Sunday? Senator Ajibola should come out clean on how he procured guns and rifles for his thugs? Senator Ajibola should tell Kwarans why he had to procure guns for his supporters? Were the guns lawfully procured? Is that his own way of empowering them? What if a stray bullet had knocked one of the residents down? What would have been Senator Ajibola’s response?
”We further call on the Kwara State Police Command to immediately commence investigation into the shootings indecent and compel Senator Ajibola to handover the armed thugs in his convoy to the Police Command for proper investigation and prosecution. We expect that this investigation is conducted as quickly as possible and the report made public before the 28th of March – the rescheduled date for presidential election.”, the statement read.
