The crisis rocking the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) took a bad
dimension on Thursday at Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State as
some protesting youths believed to be members of the party in the local
government area, beat up their leaders while intervening in a crisis
that engulfed the council due to the alleged non performance by the
Chairman of the Council, Sulaiman Adebayo.
Among those that were
seriously beaten by the protesting youths were Segun Elemide member
representing Odeda local government in the House of Assembly, the
governor’s consultant on local government, Bola Lawal, Comrade M.S Oke,
Ayo Adenekan, the ACN chairman in the local
government, Musiliu
Akindele, Alani Amoje and Titus Makinde.
The Youths who were
drawn from the 10 wards that make up the local government converged at
the local government secretariat which is along the Abeokuta-Ibadan road
around 7.30am, preventing workers from gaining entrance into the
secretariat.
Some of the youths carried placards which read,
among others “Mr Governor, our chairman is taking the youths and women
for granted in this Local government. Enough is enough” and many others,
as they made bon fire on major streets in the town.
Activities
were paralyzed in the local government for the whole day, as the
protesting youths called for the head of the council chairman who they
said was imposed on them by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
During
the pandemonium that greeted the protest, it was learnt that sachets of
pure water were thrown at some leaders of the party, who were also
accused of not calling the chairman to order while he was misbehaving.
It
was gathered that the confusion which engulfed the town was the climax
of the series of complaints against the local government chairman by the
youths.
It was gathered that the Council Chairman and the State
deputy chief of Staff, Shuaib Salisu who were heading to the trouble
spot had to make a U-turn for fear of being attacked by the angry youths
who were bent on creating more trouble in the local government.
It
was learnt that the presence of the Area Commander of the Police in
Charge of the area ,Tony Ekpo brought the situation under control, as he
took the embattled chairman to the protesting youths, who after
listening to him, decided to cease fire to allow for dialogue, today
(Friday), at the Council secretariat.
Speaking with newsmen, the
leader of the Youths, Kazeem Lawal expressed outrage over the alleged
misbehaviour of the council chairman whom he said did not bring
dividends of democracy to them.
“We have made very frantic moves
to see the chairman but he has not been forthcoming” Lawal said, as he
explained that the negative behaviour of the Chairman had continued to
force many members of the CAN to pitch tent with the Labour Party.
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