Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that he was attacked by some suspected thugs who invaded his convoy in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, following his endorsement of Moshood Adeoti for Saturday’s governorship primary.
According to report, the hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, waylaid Aregbesola’s convoy and started shooting in a bid to scare away the former governor of the state and his entourage.
According to an eyewitness, Aregbesola was reported to have continued his demonstration amid singing by his followers. Some were screaming “Sheu” as others were waiving brooms. The road show pulled so much crowd that there was traffic in the area.
During the road show along old garage in Osogbo, sound of gunshots from unknown direction was said to have rented the air.
Aregbesola’s admirers and followers reportedly scampered for safety to escape being hit by stray bullet.
A team of combined security operatives DSS, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who were among Aregbesola’s convoy, stepped down from the vehicles and started shooting in a bid to scare away the armed thugs.
Amid the gunshots , Aregbesola was still standing on his open roof car. The security personnel were able to overpower the suspected thugs who later fled before the Minister’s convoy had its way through the Dugbe/Igbona Area of the state capital.
The attack came few hours after Aregbesola openly declared that the former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, is the next governor of the state.
Recall that Mr Aregbesola and his predecessor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola have been at loggerhead ever since the latter became Governor of Osun State.
Aregbesola alleged that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration has deviated from the true tenets of APC.
He urged party stakeholders to work for the success of Adeoti in Saturday’s shadow poll.
The Minister said: “Anyone who was with us when we started the journey to reclaim Osun for the progressives in 2004 would know we fought very hard for this victory we have today.
“We went through several challenges then but through thick and thin, we were able to succeed. This time around, we will succeed.
“We are ready to allow a free flow of the democratic process to interplay here. We are not those who play God. We are resolute about reclaiming our party from those who think they can continue to abuse our legacies or even want us to be second fiddles in the party we worked and laboured for. This is our pride and we will sustain it.
“Let me tell you that God is with us. I urge all of our supporters to come all out and back us. Do not have any fears. We are the authentic APC in Osun.
“If in Lagos, the governor did not do well and the party decided not to return him for a second term, why can’t it be so in Osun? They know what they have done to us is bad and they want to continue the impunity. We will not accept it.
“Do not be disturbed by their threats. Come out en-masse and vote for our aspirant. In Shaa Allah, Adeoti is the next governor of Osun. We should all support him.”
Adeoti promised not to disappoint if elected Governor.
