- As angry APC stalwarts allege marginalization, lack of transparency
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – It was a weekend to forget for the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Olubunmi Osadahun, as she was rushed to the hospital for medical attention after being attacked in Arigidi Akoko, Akoko North West Local Government Area of the state
According to reports, Osadahun was hit with a chair on the head during the distribution of foodstuffs to support the vulnerable as part of the palliatives to address the debilitating hardship and suffering caused by the Federal Government’s subsidy removal.
Due to injuries sustained during the attack, said to have been engineered by some members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the council area, the Commissioner was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment
Insider sources said the unfortunate incident followed allegations that the palliatives distribution by the relevant government officials was shrouded in secrecy.
In a 15-second video clip that has gone viral, a visibly angry man, identified as the Akoko Northwest Ward 1 Chairman of the APC, Awolumate Olumide, popularly called ‘Cuba’ in the Area, was seen using a chair to attack the woman, and in the process inflicted injuries on her head.
It was reliably gathered that a free-for-all broke out when some aggrieved APC leaders from Arigidi Akoko alleged a lack of transparency in the palliative distribution with Olumide clearly kicking against the arrangement and accusing the Commissioner of deliberately scheming him out of the exercise.
One of the insider sources told journalists that; “The man, you saw in the video circulating on social media had complained that there was an inequitable distribution of palliatives, which many people have also been complaining about while some residents boycotted the exercise.”
“The man was complaining when a fight broke out between them and the chair was slammed on her head resulting in wounds on her face. Immediately this happened, some young boys loyal to the commissioner also descended on the man and dealt with him and tore his clothes too”
But another video that seems to counter the attack narrative had Mr Awolumate explaining what as he was heard saying; “I was assaulted in my house by the power-drunk Commissioner for Women Affairs with her son in the presence of a police officer.
“Today I was in my house relaxing when the Commissioner came with her son, one other boy, and a police officer. The police officer told me they needed my attention at the station in Oke Agbe, and before I could respond, the Commissioner pounced on me and tore my clothes, and the Commissioner’s son also joined in beating me.
“The Police officer is still here, and I have resisted arrest, and I don’t know why they had to descend on me to hand me such treatment.”
Our sources however hinted that the Commissioner reported the incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area and one family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no authorisation from the Commissioner to comment on the incident said; ”Madam is in the hospital; she can not talk with you now because the doctor advise that she should have some rest.”
However, reports later emerged that some young men, suspected to be loyalists of the Commissioner also went on a rampage in retaliation and left Awolumate beaten black and blue
Meanwhile, when contacted on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, stated that details of the case had not gotten to her table yet and she would make an official statement after proper briefing.
In a related development, a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Ondo had raised the alarm over the manner the state government was currently going about with the distribution of palliatives.
The CSO’s positions were contained in a statement issued to journalists in Akure, the State capital, and signed by Franklin Oloniju, Pius Akomolafe, Alo Martins, Stella Ikeokwu, Emmanuel Daramola, and Bola Fasuyi, in which they condemned the shoddy arrangement by the officials in charge.
Claiming that the distribution arrangement by the state government was “shrouded in secrecy and uncertainty”, they noted that too many subcommittees are handling the distribution of palliative materials to favour those who are only related to them.
