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An army of thugs,
suspected to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers
(NURTW) in Oyo State, attacked some members of the Action Congress (AC)
in Ibadan, the state capital, Wednesday evening.

The victims, who
reportedly sustained serious injuries, were coming from an enlarged
rally of their party held at Idi-Arere area of the town, on the day of
the incident.

Apparently to
forestall possible breakdown of law and order, the state police command
had stationed a truckload of police personnel at the rally area, which
is just a walking distance to Beere, the most dreaded trouble spot of
the town.

However, the
attackers hung around waiting for the AC members, and intercepted them
on their way home. Four people were reportedly injured in the process.

The party faithful
at the rally freely barraged Adebayo Alao-Akala, whose government, they
said, have failed to impact positively on the state and its people.
Though NEXT could not readily establish whether the attackers are
members of the opposition party, Olubodun Rasaq, personal Assistant to
Abiola Ajimobi, an AC governorship candidate, said the hoodlums were
known members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He explained that
they had the information on the impending attack beforehand, saying
that was why they requested for police protection at the rally.

But, perhaps, the
thugs, realising that an attack in the heavy presence of officers of
the Nigeria Police, State Security Services (SSS) and the Civil Defence
Corps could be suicidal, deferred it till the end of the rally and a
distance away from the rally area.

The police authorities, have, however, dismissed the alleged attack, describing it as political.

Police denial

Olabisi Okuwobi,
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State command, said the
rally was peaceful, adding that no attack occurred before, during and
after the rally.

She advised
politicians to always be truthful and be weary of sending wrong signals
to the world about the situation in the state, in order not to scare
way would-be investors.

Former governor of
the state, Lam Adesina, in his own speech, condemned Governor
Alao-Akala for allowing the issue of new Teachers Salary Structure
(TSS) to degenerate to the level of the teachers calling for an
indefinite strike.

“Teacher-government
face-off is getting worse because this government does not recognize
teachers; it does not take care of them. Let me warn Governor Akala not
to try sacking any teacher. If he does, God will sack him. AC
government will restore free education and free health at all levels in
Oyo State as from next year.

“In my four-year tenure, we received N48 billion but Governor Akala
has received N250 billion so far. Let him account for what he has done
with the money,” he said.