Kwara PDP,APC trade blames over hoodlums clashes in Ilorin

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Kwara state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated itself from hoodlums clashes in Ilorin which paralysed commercial activities on Monday.

The party in a statement issued yesterday by the Chairman, Publicity Committee, Mr Mohammed Mariam Alhassan stated that the allegation leveled against the party that it was behind the crisis among the hoodlums was false.

The Kwara State APC through its Interim Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari has alleged that PDP was behind the clashes of thugs in Ilorin.

Buhari, in statement had said that “we condemn the violence, disruption of business activities and destruction of properties in Post Office, Taiwo Isale, Niger road, Unity road and other areas of the state by PDP thugs. PDP has declared war on the people of the state.

“According to the information at our disposal, this strike actions are due to the failure of the PDP leadership to fulfil promises made to the thugs that were mobilized to its Sunday rally, a rally that is now tagged huge disappointment in the state.”

But PDP, which dismissed the allegation said the crisis did not have anything to do with political affairs but issues among the groups of hoodlums in Ilorin.

“Our attention has been drawn to a falsehood and unwarranted allegation leveled against the Kwara Chapter of the PDP by the intimidated All Progressives Congress, APC, linking our party with the crisis that occurred in Ilorin on Monday.

“With this misinformation and unwarranted accusation, we are bold to say that the APC is frustrated by the large turn-out of our supporters during the unity gathering held at the Lower Niger River Basin premises on Sunday.

“The false accusation has also confirmed that APC is not in tune with what is happening in the environment it claimed to be governing. Without mincing words, what happened on Monday had its remote causes long before now despite the presence of government and its agencies.

“What happened was purely an act of misunderstanding between some groups which does not have anything to do with party affairs. However, trying to achieve cheap publicity by disseminating wrong information to the general public is an act of irresponsibility on the part of APC’s leadership and its allies.

“APC leaders and their members should also be aware that a more intimidating event will soon come up with the visiting of President Goodluck Jonathan come Monday 3rd March 2014,” he said.