No fewer than two people were feared dead and several others injured on Friday when two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party engaged in a gun battle in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Ogbomoso woke up to sporadic gunshots by some political hoodlums, who were out to abort a planned rally by some PDP chieftains, who included former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Lekan Balogun, Chief Teslim Folarin, Alhaji Yinus Akintunde, Chief Sharafadeen Alli, and Chief Ayo Adeseun.


Other political leaders in the Ladoja-led group included Alhaji Fatai Buhari, Chief Ademola Alalade, Ambassador Yomi Akintola, and Ademola Adejumobi.


Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, who is an indigene of Ogbomoso, was said to be on a foreign trip. As early as 10 am, some youths suspected to be sympathetic to the second-term bid of Alao-Akala made bonfires and drove round Ogbomoso, firing gunshots into the air.


The tense situation made residents to stay indoors as gun-wielding hoodlums, chanting belligerent songs, spoiled for war.


Some of the hoodlums positioned themselves at the entry points of the town – ostensibly to ward off the entourage from Ibadan.


The hoodlums stationed themselves at Taki area, which falls within Ogbomoso-North Local Government Council, where Alao-Akala comes from.


Some of them were seen at Idi-Abede, Oja’gbo, Isale-Ora, and the front of the palace of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade, who later received the Ladoja-led team in the palace.


Motorists and passengers made quick detour away from Ogbomoso as early as 11 am when the situation became tense with bonfires on many roads in the town.


The Ladoja-led entourage was welcomed into Ogbomoso amid fanfare and glamour as many people, who were hitherto afraid to come out, trooped out singing, dancing and chanting anti-Alao-Akala songs.


The youths, who provided security for the Ladoja group, cleared the roads of the debris formed by the bonfires and barricades.


The Ibadan entourage, which was ushered into the Ogunlola Hall in Ogbomoso North Local Government amid songs and dance, had, however, been earlier barred from using the hall via a letter signed by Mrs. S. O. Giwa, on behalf of the council chairman.


Ladoja and other PDP leaders sensitised the teeming crowd inside the hall on the importance of voting for a credible governorship candidate in the 2011 elections.


Some policemen, who appeared helpless, were seen in some areas of Ogbomoso.


When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Bisi Okuwobi, said she was on a peacekeeping mission in Liberia.


She directed our correspondent to call the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta.


The commissioner said nobody died and there was no fight. He added that the police persuaded the people making bonfires to stop it and they heeded the plea.
source:punch

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