members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and
supporters of some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
Oyo State engaged in a free-for-all, on Friday, at the home of the
Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, in
Ibadan.
A sallah visit to the businessman had gone awry after the PDP
supporters were attacked by members of the NURTW, led by the caretaker
chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde, also known as Fele.
The PDP supporters, numbering about 100, wearing uniform ankara, were
said to have been led to Arisekola-Alao's house by two factional
leaders of the party in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin and Alhaji
Hazeem Gbolarumi.
The people were said to have occupied all the space in the expansive
living room of the businessman before the arrival of more guests.
Trouble started when the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and
his entourage arrived in the residence amid cheers by a crowd of his
admirers.
As soon as the governor arrived in the living room, the PDP
supporters, especially the women among them, were said to have chanted
anti-Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) slogans with talking drummers
adding to their excitement.
In a reaction to what they considered a slight on the governor, the
union members, led by Oyerinde, allegedly descended on the PDP
supporters, beating them, not sparing the females too.
Mr Taiwo Oke, who was the chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government Area
during the administration of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, was
among those that suffered injuries during the attack.
He was hit in the head several times, after his cap had been removed,
before some people pleaded for him.
Several chinaware, from which the PDP supporters had eaten Sallah
meals, were damaged in the melee that lasted about 50 minutes.
The host had to mount a table in the living room to call for a
'ceasefire', reminding them of their purpose for visiting him.
The PDP supporters were later driven out of the living room by the
union members, while Folarin and others watched helplessly.
When Governor Ajimobi left the residence, Folarin, Gbolarumi and
others went into a closed-door meeting with the Aare Musulumi inside a
room upstairs.
Source. :(Tribune)