The political atmosphere of Osun State became charged on Monday as hoodlums attacked journalists in Osogbo, the state capital.
The invaders stormed a venue where 11 out of the 16 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Working Committee were addressing reporters.
The hoodlums suspected to be working for some APC members arrived the venue in a 14-passenger bus, carrying various dangerous weapons.
The APC executives were announcing the suspension of the Party Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, and the Secretary, Rasaki Salinsile, for an alleged plot to impose direct primaries on the party against the conventional delegate system.
The hoodlums, numbering about 20, caused serious panic and pandemonium at the venue as hundreds of party members at the briefing scampered to safety.
Despite the attack, the APC State Legal adviser, Goke Ogunsola, flanked with the Vice Chairman, Isah Adesiji; Assistant Secretary, Rasheed Bakare; and the leader of the Local Government Chairmen in Osun, Rufus Awotidoye, went ahead to announce the suspension of Famodun and Salinsile.
“We want to state loud and clear that we do not have confidence in the chairman and secretary of the party in the state again,” he said. “Therefore, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Prince Gboyega Famodun and Alhaji Abdul Rasak Salinsile, the chairman and secretary of the APC in the State of Osun respectively.”
The party executives further directed Adesiji and Bakare to take over the APC leadership as the Acting Chairman and Acting Secretary respectively, with a charge to lead the party to success in the coming governorship election.
“Finally, we want to inform the head of various security agencies in the state, more especially the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, that the lives of members of Integrity Group within APC, which cut across the organs of the party in the state across the 30 Local Government Council Areas, and the Area Offices are being threatened from certain quarters because of their stand against direct primary.
“We appeal to the heads of security agencies in the state to ensure the protection of our lives and property wherever we reside,” the legal adviser added.
Meanwhile, the embattled chairman told Channels Television that the purported direct primary directive was issued by the APC National Leadership and not his decision.
He, however, noted that the constitution of the party does not allow for anyone to suspend the chairman or any other person, stating that such action must be taken according to the laydown procedures.
Famodun said, “Unfortunately these days, politics is being played by matured and immature minds. The direct primary decision is not my decision, I have leaders that I report to.
“I don’t see a serious political party that will suspend its chairman a month and a half to the election,” he added.
