Oyo State politics: violence returns fully to Ibadan
The Oyo State Police command had confirmed the attack at Ile Tuntun Area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. Oyo State politics has a particular trait, which has made the southwest state so notorious that anxiety soars when elections approach.
The free-for-all was, predictably, between the two leading political parties: the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress. Three individuals lost their lives in the melee that happened at a campaign rally.
So many lives have been lost in Oyo State politics. It often happens that violence, chaos, pandemonium, arson permeate the system in the state. Popular figures including Honourable Temitope Olatoye (Sugar), Mr. Lateef Salako (Eleweomo), even Chief Bola Ige lost their lives in the capital city.
There have been accusations, alarms, intimidation of opponents and even threat to lives and properties as the gubernatorial election draws closer in the state. Oyo State politics seems totally different and it is marked with deaths.
A federal lawmaker reportedly held a gun and fires shots at the members of the All Progressives Congress. There were retaliation and all of a sudden, three people had died. Others escaped by a whisker.
There was a rapid slowdown in violence when the Late Abiola Ajimobi was in power as the state governor. He moved the state totally away from breakdown of laws and orders. Of course, there were some skirmishes, yet it can be states that the level of current violence has never been this high.
Tensions are always high during elections in the state. This has scared away the voters, who value their lives so much. The Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, who is seeking another term in office, has warned political thugs to steer clear of the polling units.
How much of his rhetoric can stop violence in Oyo State politics? Several cases of killings have been recorded in the capital, Ibadan. The police have assured voters that their security is intact. How can the voters believe this?
Few hours after the incident at the Ibadan Southeast Local Government Area, the Punch Newspaper reported that the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Teslim Folarin escaped assassination. Retaliation is one of the key issues hindering the development of Oyo State politics.
Mr. Folarin has been linked to the gruesome killing of Mr. Lateef Salako (Eleweomo). He has denied being involved in the 2010 killing of the NURTW leader. More than a decade later, violence still defines the political system of the state.
In few hours’ time, voters will go to the poll. But there is no guarantee of security. If killings and attacks could occur during the buildup to the gubernatorial election, what would happen on the D-Day?
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