Kwara PDP, APC differ on elder meeting disruption

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

The Kwara state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the main opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have disagreed over whose political thugs allegedly disrupted an elders meeting in a part of the state.

The PDP in a statement by it Publicity Secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye implored the Kwara state Police Command to quickly stop the tide of violence that is now gradually enveloping parts of Kwara state as a result of power tussle over the second term ambition of the incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

“As much we are little bothered about the raging internal crisis within the APC, we are however concerned that the peace of a sizeable portion of Kwara state is being threatened due to the desperation of the incumbent Governor, Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed to go for a 2nd term in office.

“The fracas in Ajase-Ipo has only vindicated our position that the leadership of the Kwara APC is only interested in retaining power at all cost and at the detriment of the peace and tranquility of the state.”

The party which claimed that newspaper reports indicated that a bloody fracas was caused by aggrieved Kwara South APC youth leaders who stormed the venue of a meeting where the 2nd term bid of the governor was being perfected and beat up their party elders black and blue.

“Already, about 20 chieftains of the APC, including a former Commissioner of Works in the state, have been reported to have been hospitalized and are now being treated with varying degrees of bodily injury.

“As much as we do not encourage the violence employed by the APC youths, we however note with delight their rare courage to stand against the inequity of allowing their non-performing kinsman clinch a 2nd term ticket in the APC.

“The youths, having realized that their elders have been compromised with peanuts, have decided to take their destinies in their own hands.”

But APC in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, urged the Kwara Police command to speed up prosecution against PDP for allegedly spearheading violence in the state.

The APC said, “The speedy prosecution of PDP leaders and thugs, who have either been arrested or granted conditional bail in connection with the violence and criminal activities, by the Police Command will ultimately reduce the spate of violence in Kwara state.

“Barely 24 hours that it alerted the Police Command and the general public on how an undemocratic bid by Abuja PDP politicians to impose party executives on its few members in Ilorin West local government led to the disruption of commercial activities plus break down of law and order by rampaging PDP thugs at Ilorin metropolis on Tuesday, the remorseless PDP thugs have once again attacked government officials, APC chieftains and youths at a Town Hall meeting organized by the Kwara state government at Ajase-ipo in Irepodun Local Government, on Wednesday.

“The Executive Governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has not declared his intention to seek re-election in office, so there was no way his 2nd term ambition could be heating up the polity as mischievous opposition elements have been peddling around” APC stated.