…Warned Lawmakers not to Plunge Lagos Into Chaos Over Ambode’s Impeachment
PDP Governorship Candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, and Member, House of Representatives, Honourable Adekunle Obasa, at the town hall meeting in Ojo and left with the His Royal Majesty, Oba Yusahu Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Iba on Thursday
believed to be supporters of a ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Thursday attacked the campaign team of the Lagos Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje.
The attack, which left some members of his entourage sustaining minor injuries took place after he visited the palace of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni in Ojo Local Government area of the state.
Agbaje was also denied use of the Ojo Town Hall that PDP leaders had earlier booked for their council’s version of the series of town hall meetings he had been holding around the state.
Instead, the PDP candidate shifted the event to the sidewalk of the ever-busy busy Olojo Drive, in Ojo Local Government, where he hosted hundreds of supporters, under the watchful eyes of police.
Agbaje complained during the town hall meeting: “We said we wanted to hold this event inside the local government hall, a facility that belongs to all of us. We paid for the hall, but they refuse us the use.”
He said that: “Elections are about choice; it is about democracy. There is so much intolerance on the part of ruling party to having people choose their preferred candidates.”
A dozen vehicles in Agbaje’s convoy were attacked and damaged, including a Toyota Coaster bus that had its rear glass broken, while a Toyota “Hummer” bus had a side glass broken.
Although the candidate himself escaped unhurt, several supporters sustained various degrees of injury and were left bleeding after some ruffians, believed to be loyal to the ruling party, gave the PDP team a hot chase with guns, knives, machetes and other assault weapons.
They first launched their attack after Agbaje and his team paid a courtesy visit to the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Iba.
Left injured were: Tunde Lawal, Toheeb Alamu, Dayo Sofola and Segun Moyo, who were stabbed.
Some on the entourage lost valuables, such as phones and cash belonging to: Olufemi Musbau, Ajoke Sanni, Banji Ibrahim, Omolara Wonuola, Michael Mba, Mutiu Badiru and Kalu Austin.
After the town hall meeting on Olojo Road, Ojo, hoodlums once again gave the departing convoy a hot chase, with stones and bottles flying after the fleeing vehicles.
However, the police brought under control by shooting into the air to dissuade the stubborn pursuers from their evil design.
At the town hall meeting that held at Olojo Drive, in Ojo, Agbaje praised the ethnic diversity of Lagos and said the multifaceted character of the city lent to its appeal.
“We are not driving anybody away from Lagos,” he said.
“We shall win the State House of Assembly, we shall win the Senate seat, we shall win the House of Representatives, we shall win the governorship and PDP shall win the presidential election,” he predicted.
Earlier, Agbaje had asked members of the House of Assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) not to plunge the state into chaos over moves to impeach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
Reacting to reports that lawmakers this week issued Ambode a seven-day ultimatum to defend his supposed inability to submit the 2019 budget to the House, Agbaje sued for peace, saying, the move was capable of jeopardising the smooth running of the state.
“I received the news of the impending impeachment of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode with a lot of reservation, especially with its timing and motive. This is just 19 or so days to the Federal elections and the governorship, a fortnight thereafter. So the natural questions to ask are: Why this haste? And what is the motive?” Agbaje said.
He stated that although the Legislature reserved the right to perform oversight functions, “such a responsibility should not be abused. It should be carried out in a manner that places the citizens’ interest above any pecuniary benefit to a vested interest.”
