The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State assumed a dangerous direction on Wednesday, as masked gunmen launched an attack on the newly opened secretariat of the parallel faction known as the PDP stakeholders group.
It was gathered that about 40 heavily armed masked men stormed the parallel secretariat located at No 2,Abass Okunola Street, Bodija, Ibadan, vandalising vehicles and other items.
Several offices were reportedly burgled by the attackers at the secretariat, which was yet to be officially unveiled by the factional leaders
Speaking on the attack, a factional leader of the party, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeniyan alleged that the Chairman of the Park Managers in Oyo State, Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as Auxiliary, was behind the attack.
He noted that Auxiliary could not have acted without Governor Seyi Makinde’s directive.
“Mask or no mask, we know Mukaila Auxiliary and his park managers are the ones terrorising the people of Oyo State. We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that the invasion was orchestrated by Governor Seyi Makinde. Our members escaped being killed as Auxiliary and his boys baptised the secretariat with gunfire.
“We are peace-loving PDP members and setting up our own secretariat is normal in a democratic setting. So, we will not engage in brigandage with the violent PDP faction loyal to the governor,” Olopoeniyan said.
The PDP chieftain said the incident has been reported to the Police for necessary actions.
When contacted, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Akeem Olatunji, also said: “We are not aware of existence of any office. I don’t think there is anybody claiming to be responsible for any office. There is no PDP faction in Oyo State. We are not aware of any factional executive. We are not aware of what they are talking about. They should look within themselves.”
