Drama ensured at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign rally in Abeokuta the Ogun state capital on Monday as fracas broke out between the supporters of the APC and those of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The scene played out at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Kuto in Abeokuta when the governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun handed the microphone to the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to address the crowd.
As Oshiohmole commenced his speech, the thugs started hurling missiles at the podium to disrupt the programme.
The event was temporarily brought to a halt, with governor Amosun begging the unruly party members to desist from the bad behaviour.
“Please in the name of God, it is enough, don’t disgrace me, God will not destroy your work, please don’t destroy my work,” the governor hollered in vain.
The development forced dignitaries to flee the podium. Those who left include former governors Bola Tinubu, Olusegun Osoba and Bisi Akande; and Governors Rotimi Akeredolu, Kayode Fayemi and Akinwunmi Ambode of Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos respectively.
Before the attack on party chieftains, former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, cautioned those he described as hypocrites against “staying indoor and fighting the home from outside.”
After a brief peace return, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo spoke about the agenda of the APC for the second term. He called on party supporters and the electorate to return the party at all levels.
Oshiomhole handed over the party’s flag to Dapo Abiodun, who is the party’s governorship candidate, while President Buhari also raised the hand of Abiodun before the crowd.
While Buhari was raising Abiodun’s hand, the crowd shouted ‘No, No’ and hurled objects at the president and the governorship candidate.
It took the intervention of the security operatives who shielded the president and ensured he was not hurt by the missiles.
Addressing the gathering, Amosun reiterated his decision to work for the reelection of Buhari but not to work for the party’s governorship candidate, Dapo Abiodun. He directed his supporters to follow suit.
“Come Saturday, let us go out to vote for President Buhari and on March 2, let us look elsewhere. I hope you understand me and get my message. And let it be known to you all, after the March 2 poll, we shall all become APC again,’ Amosun said.
At a point, the APC national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, out of outrage to negative comment of governor Amosun to the elders of the APC couple with APM supporters embarrassing conduct flung the party’s flag to the ground.
Amosun is leading a rebellion in the state against the leadership of the APC for rejecting his nomination of Adekunle Akinlade as the APC governorship candidate. Akinlade has moved over to pick the flag of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the election on March 2.
At the rally, Amosun allegedly ordered the gate to be thrown open for all party members to attend the ceremony and the 35,000 capacity stadium was filled to the brim.
