Confusion still envelopes the shooting that took place at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Friday as claims and counter-claims are being made.
While the APC said the target of the shooting was its governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, with the Peoples Democratic Party-led State Government blaming it on self-destruction by those involved, the Ekiti State Police Command said it is still investigating whether the Mobile Policeman whose gun caused the havoc was on illegal duty as claimed or out to kill Fayemi.
A former member of the House of Representatives and one of those who ran against Fayemi for the governorship ticket, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, and an unidentified person were hit by the bullets from the policeman’s gun.
Among those at the reception were Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ekiti State; former Minister of Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; and Fayemi’s running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.
Bamidele was said to have been shot on the hand in the ensuing melee, while the other victim was also hit.
The spokesman of the APC in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement described the incident as “a clear case of assassination attempt”.
Olatunbosun said the policeman had shot at Fayemi and missed, with the bullet hitting Bamidele and the other victim.
He said in a statement: “Bloody politicking returned to Ekiti State yesterday, as former Governor Kayode Fayemi survived assassination in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
“Fayemi resigned his appointment on Wednesday as the Minister of Mines and Steel Development and was returning to Ekiti State on Friday in a welcome party planned by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“It was a smooth ride from Akure Airport to Ikere-Ekiti where thousands of supporters came out to give him a rousing welcome.
“Ikere-Ekiti journey to Ado-Ekiti, a distance of about nine kilometres, lasted two hours in a heavy traffic that was punctuated by four gunmen suspected to be agents of the state government who strategically positioned themselves at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti for the attack.
“One of the assailants dressed in mobile police uniform was apprehended and he is now helping the police in their investigation.
“They fired gunshots aimed at Fayemi but hit a former lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, after the former minister had taken a few steps forward before the bullets hit the target.
“Bamidele and other victims were immediately rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where doctors are responding to his treatment.
“Bamidele was fatally wounded in the attack while others also sustained various degrees of injuries.
“Other victims in the hospital included Olabode Joshua, Olanrewaju Gbenga, Adebayo Ogunjemilehin, Ogunmodede Oluwole and Alex Adeleye.”
However, the Ekiti State Government in a statement by Lere Olayinka said: “Today, the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi invaded Ekiti State with armed policemen and thugs, throwing the State that has been peaceful since the advent of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s government into bloodshed.
“Akeredolu led the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to Ekiti in a show of federal might and in the process, seven people were hit by police bullets.
“At the APC secretariat, one of the mobile policeman, was said to be using his gun to push away the thugs brought from Ondo State and the hoodlums in turn dragged the gun with him, leading to sporadic shootings that left six persons shot.
“One of those injured was Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele. Five others also had gunshot injuries.
“The APC thugs backed by armed policemen later went on rampage at Ojumose area of Ado Ekiti, destroying the canopies and chairs in front of the residence of late Prince Adegoke.
“One of the Teargas canisters fired by the policemen hit a Taxi driver, Odeyemi Olumide badly injuring him. He is now receiving treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, alongside five others who were shot at the APC secretariat.
“As usual, the APC went to town with story that the policeman who fired the shots at the party secretariat was fake.
“However, information available to us is that the policeman was brought from Ondo State by Governor Akeredolu.
“Consequently, we challenge the Police authority to release the identity of the police officer to the public and how he left Akure for Ado Ekiti.
“We also wish to alert the public of the possibility of the APC shenanigans plotting to assassinate the policeman so as to sustain their lie that he is fake.
“We make bold to say that Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State and Dr Fayemi must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State. We are aware of their mobilisation of thugs from Ondo State to Ekiti for the July 14. The governor even reportedly boasted that he was ready to spend two months allocation of Ondo State on Fayemi’s election.
“The first manifestation of Governor Akeredolu’s plot to ensure that Ekiti is taken by force was the bloodshed witnessed in the State today.
“Lastly, let Governor Akeredolu and his stooge, Kayode Fayemi know that Ekiti is not a state to be taken by force and annexed to Ondo State by anyone, our people will resist the APC agents of bloodshed.”
The Ekiti State Police Command said it was investigating the development.
The police spokesman in the state, Caleb Chukwuemeka, said the command was still awaiting the report of the incident from its officers deployed to provide security at the reception.
Fayemi and his entourage had earlier been received in Ikere Ekiti by a long convoy of vehicles and large crowd of party supporters, resulting in a traffic snarl on the Ado-Ekiti-Akure Road.
Addressing the crowd, Akeredolu had applauded the party members for putting behind them the post-primary crisis.
He said the huge crowd was indicative that the state had remained a stronghold of the APC.
“Fayemi has returned with full force to reclaim the land. He needs your support and this task shall be achieved in the mighty name of God,” he said.
Fayemi, in his response, said: “We are here to work for Ekiti and our party leaders and this we are going to do together because it is a collective responsibility.
“We are going to work with everybody, including those who just decamped to our party, because we are one big family in APC.
“We shall win by the grace of God.
“Our case was like the case of a ram who moved backwards to garner more strength.
“We are here to rescue Ekiti and it is a task we must achieve.”
Adeyeye, who returned to the party on Tuesday after 12 years in the PDP, also said: “I have returned home and my mission is to ensure that we kill (Governor Ayo) Fayose politically by burying him.
“We shall mobilise well to achieve this task and by the grace of God this is a must-win and must accomplished task for all of us.”