The Nation Newspaper

Tag: attack

  • 4 killed as gunmen attack DSS office

    4 killed as gunmen attack DSS office

    An unspecified number of suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Friday night attacked the Lokoja, Kogi State headquarters of the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

    The insurgents, according to a reliable source, attacked the facility, close to a number of government offices, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Customs and NIPOST headquarters, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) office and the Federal High Court, the Kogi State House of Assembly complex, around 9pm.

    The attack was, however, repelled by the combined efforts of the DSS operatives and soldiers from the nearby military formation in the area, at the end of which three of the suspected insurgents were killed, while unconfirmed reports had it that two others were arrested.

    A mobile police man also lost his life.

    It was gathered that the heavily armed Boko Haram members engaged the security operatives in fierce exchange of fire power lasting several hours.

    A source told our correspondent that officers from the nearby Zone 8 police barracks were sighted evacuating their families even while the gun duel lasted.

    It was gathered that the combined efforts of a police team and the army later overpowered the insurgents who fled into the surrounding bushes, while some escaped through the Meme River.

    The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, who confirmed the incident said detectives have been deployed to the area, and were on the trail of the fleeing terrorists.

    “The gunmen numbering about 40 at about 10pm (Friday) launched attack on the DSS headquarters at Hassan Katsina Road, Lokoja.

    “Before the attack they shot and hijacked one heavy duty trailer to block the road. At the end of the day, three of them were killed, while the rest fled”, the CP was quoted as saying.

    Our correspondent who visited the Kogi State Police Command headquarters around 9am yesterday met the place near desolate.

    One of the three policemen seen around the premises said that the CP just left the premises, along with a (police) cameraman.

    He said that they took pictures of “some bodies” which they later took away in a vehicle.

     

  • Police arrest eight in connection with attack

    Police arrest eight in connection with attack

    The police yesterday said they arrested eight suspects in connection with the attack on Senate President Bukola Saraki and other personalities at the Ilorin praying ground.

    Police spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, described those that arrested as “miscreants”.

    Okasanmi added that there was no record of any civil servant or government official among those arrested.

    Said he: “The state police command deployed no fewer than 2000 policemen in synergy with other security agencies to make sure that the Eid-el–Kabir celebration is a huge success. In the course of prayers, there was the insurgence of criminals which we put into consideration while planning our security strategy. We know they normally come to beg for money from well-to-do members of the public.

    “So they came as usual, but we noticed they were becoming unruly. We had to come out to prevent them from getting to where the VIPs were seated. We then chased them away and we arrested about eight of them. They are in our custody and we have started investigation.

    “We learnt that one or two persons were injured; but there has not been any official reports as to if anyone was injured. The motive of their unruly behaviour is yet to be determined. As far as we are concerned, the people arrested are miscreants.

    “From the stories we are hearing, one or two vehicles have been damaged but we have not seen the vehicles. We also heard that one person was injured but we have not seen the person.

    “The prayers went as planned and the dignitaries came back to their various destinations without any hitch. Among the people arrested, there was no record of civil or government functionary; the eight arrested are miscreants.”

  • Ondo alleges plan to attack Mimiko

    Ondo alleges plan to attack Mimiko

    Ondo State Government has alleged plans by the state’s “enemies” to embark on “massive propaganda” to undermine Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his administration.

    Commissioner for Information Kayode  Akinmade, in a statement issued in Akure yesterday, said the state government had uncovered the planned attack, which, he claimed, has been scripted to begin with series of petitions against Mimiko  and his administration.

    Akinmade said the plan followed “several failed attempts by adversaries to indict the governor through petitions written against him to the Economic and  Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)”.

    He alleged that a meeting was held in Abuja in the house of a prominent Ondo politician, where a lawyer was assigned to write frivolous  petitions against Mimiko using framed up allegations, especially as it concerned the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

    The commissioner said the “lawyer is expected to begin his assignment with a petition against the governor over what the meeting said should be another framed up allegations on the spending of funds allocated to the  agency”.

    He said a meeting also took place at the Lagos Airport hotel  few days ago, where lawyers and rights activists were recruited for a massive campaign Mimiko on radio, television, social media, and newspapers .

    Describing the plans as “ mere shadow chasing that  will fail like the previous ones”, Akinmade said Mimiko has become the subject of attack because of his role as a rallying point of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Akinmade said:  “Mimiko, who is no doubt, one of the most credible conscience of the PDP in this country and a reliable rallying-point for members of the party, will not be distracted by anybody or group who are out on political vendetta.”

  • ‘I’m not ready to attack Jonathan yet, but he misruled us’

    ‘I’m not ready to attack Jonathan yet, but he misruled us’

    Lawyer, criminologist and former Minister of State for Education under President Goodluck Jonathan, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the new administration and where Jonathan missed the mark. Excerpts:

    What’s your take on the state of the nation?

    I believe that a nation that went down to the level we got to under the last administration will find it difficult to get out of it hale and hearty. I believe Dr Goodluck Jonathan is, in fact, a lucky man that President Muhammadu Buhari won the election. We had reached the end of the road under him.

    That we had a change of government, itself, had given us a breather. What the breather means is that we have a better hope than before. A lot of Nigerians now expect something as against when we had no expectation. What we are looking for now is how President Buhari will get us out of the messy situation we are in.

    They have started arresting some criminals. What we had in the past were inconclusive arrests and investigations. We must make people account for what they did. Our security agencies must arrest looters. Instead of just taking money from them, we must take the current arrests to a logical conclusion.

    You were part of the Jonathan’s years. Are you dissociating yourself from the failures of that administration?

    I became a minister in that government by a lot of interferences. For instance, when I refused to be a minister, no less a person than Theophilus Danjuma was contacted to prevail on me. I accepted the appointment and worked for Nigeria. The duty of Jonathan was to appoint, mine was to work. I did my work unblemished.

    However, there were things in government that went on while I was there and after I had left that I dissociate myself from. I’m dissociating myself from the infractions of the government.

    I want Nigerians to know that there are people in this country who have made money and had wealth before going into government.

    The former president himself said several times that he didn’t know I was that wealthy before I joined his government.

    The point is I’m not directing any attack at anybody but what I’m saying is that the country was misruled and if Jonathan was my father or brother, I will say so. I won’t keep quiet when things are bad. You will recall I told Jonathan two months before the elections that there was no way he could come back.

    Do you think the steps Buhari have taken so far are taking us back to the right tracks?

    As somebody in the business world, I will say that Buhari himself might not have done something but the fact that you cannot carry $100,000 to the president for any favour has put a different orientation into our heads that it is no longer business as usual. It is clear that at over 70, Buhari will never get to a stage where he would have any other interest at heart than the good of Nigeria.

    But some have alleged that 95 percent of his appointments are from a section of a country where he comes from. What’s your take on that?

    There are appointments that the President has to make under constitutional conditionality but there are some that are strictly under his prerogative. We can compare him with other former presidents of Nigeria and see if he had done anything different. You cannot appoint a Minister of Niger Delta from Lagos. It is not possible because the constitution has taken care of that. But if you talk about some appointments, it is based on what the President wants.

    For the first time in the nation’s history, the president and the head of the electoral commission are from the same region. Will this augur well?

    I can confirm to you that Amina Zakari will never be chairperson of INEC. A government’s business cannot be left in a vacuum. When the last chairman was leaving, somebody necessarily must take over in an acting capacity. What we have is a transition to a different government.

    In a country where the President is inundated with many criminals, he has to take his time to appoint the right person for an important agency as INEC.

    But I can assure you that Buhari is too sensible to make Amina the substantive INEC chairperson no matter how competent she is. The history of Nigeria has made it that the President and the INEC chair always come from different regions. Amina is only bidding time in INEC. She will go when Buhari finds a competent person.

    What about the appointment of the Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General, a man from the President’s village, more or less a cousin?

    Nigerians must learn to remove pettiness from our reactions. Given the sensitive nature of this country, in terms of coups and counter-coups, it has become a practice to appoint someone you can trust as DSS chief.

    Let me start by saying that Daura is a wonderful and honest man. He has not been found wanting or accused of corruption. We have had several instances of Presidents only entrusting security to persons they are comfortable with.

    The former DG SSS, Sunday Areh, was dismissed for allegedly plotting a coup. He was a Lt. Col when he was dismissed from the military. He was brought back by former President Obasanjo. Areh was like his son. He became DG DSS.

    Lt. General Patrick Azazi was appointed as Director of Military Intelligence, then National Security Adviser (NSA) because former President Jonathan believed in him. Azazi was from Jonathan’s region. Every major appointment in the security forces then were coordinated by Azazi. That was what the former President was comfortable with.

    The point is that today people feel comfortable with certain persons. Nigeria has become so distrustful that you need persons you can trust for certain roles. So, what is wrong with Daura who left the service voluntarily because he couldn’t cope with the level of corruption?

    So, the President has not done anything wrong by picking a man who left the service voluntarily. We have to be careful with many of the things said in the social media because most of the activists are sponsored and paid by certain vested interests.

    Are you not bothered that Buhari is taking eternity to form a cabinet?

    Let me tell you that because of the level of rottenness in the polity, you have to be extra careful with some appointments. I know that Nigerians can be impatient. We are becoming restless. What Buhari is going through is as a result of the distrust we have for our leaders.

    Do you agree with Buhari’s limiting his probe of past administrations to Jonathan’s government?

    Buhari has no business going to probe Obasanjo regime. It will just be an unnecessary and irresponsible distraction, because whatever Obasanjo did, Yar’ Adua came, and I can tell you I worked with Yar’ Adua. I was then the Chairman of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and in my meetings with Yar’ Adua he would have probed Obasanjo.

    I can tell you that without making mistakes. And Obasanjo knows himself that Yar’ Adua would have probed him. If Yar’ Adua did not probe him, Jonathtan came and did not probe him then that government is gone and gone.

    Whatever Obasanjo did in his government obviously will have effect on Yar’ Adua/Jonathan’s government and if they felt that there was nothing wrong and nothing to probe that was the business of that government.

    But whatever happened in Jonathan’s government has direct and immediate bearing and consequences on this government. It is a back- to- back government. Buhari has a duty to probe Jonathan. And in any case what is wrong with that? I was a minister before, what is wrong in probing me? Why is anybody afraid of Buhari’s probe? What is causing anxiety over the issue of Daura now?  Why are they afraid? If your hands are clean, why are you afraid of probe? I have properties all over Nigeria and abroad. I have every cheque that I have received in my life as a human being. So, why is anybody afraid of probe?

    Are you still open to returning to politics?

    It destroyed all my businesses. I can play an advisory role. I can play roles that are not directly opposed to my successes, my business successes in life. I don’t think I want to be involved. I am too old now. At 53, I should bow out.

    What then happens to the infatuation you have of ruling Delta, which you are passionate about?

     I am still passionate. We have a governor who is my friend, who we all started the party together. Let us see him succeed instead of heating up the polity of Delta State. I am very certain that is what we need to do right now.

    But as God wishes, if He calls you, you cannot reject. But I am saying that I won’t go to anybody; that I have never done before to submit my CV to beg for appointment that I want to work for you.

    You didn’t lobby to be a minister?

    Never! I did not. EK Clark was the one who insisted that I must be a minister. He did everything possible and I said I will not be. When it became so bad he spoke to my friend Theophilus Danjuma to persuade me.

    Some persons are of the opinion that you are attacking Jonathan because he removed you as a minister?

    It is very childish for anybody to make such statement. Jonathan himself feels guilty that he will have to leave politics for nothing. We held that administration and made it work without any interest. Jonathan has not given me one kobo in my life; I was the one who spent my personal money and I am not attacking him.

    If you see all my discussions, I have not attacked him. If I have to do so, I have enough reasons to do so because I have enough facts to do so but I have not gotten to that stage yet.

  • Attack: Zamfara Council Boss appeals to residents for calm

    Attack: Zamfara Council Boss appeals to residents for calm

    The acting Chairman of Birnin Magaji Local Government of Zamfara, Alhaji Muhammad Gusami, on Friday urged residents to support efforts by government to restore peace in the area.

    Gusami said the people must remain calm in spite of present security challenges, assuring that government was working hard to secure the area.

    The acting chairman made the appeal while receiving food items donated by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for victims of a recent banditry in the area.

    It will be recalled  that bandits attacked some communities in the area on July 4, killed over 40 people, injured many and razed several houses and shops.

    According to him, the state government in collaboration with security agencies will ensure the return of peace and stability to the state.

    “I urge the affected communities to cooperate with government to achieve this desired goal.”

    He also appealed to the people to report any suspicious persons or movement in their communities.

    ”On behalf of the entire people of Birnin Magaji local government, I want to commend the state government for the assistance given to the victims especially as the assistance would improve their well being.

    ”I want to also use this opportunity to thank some wealthy individuals in the state who assisted the victims with food items and clothes,” he added.

    The acting Chairman of SEMA, Mr Sunusi Kwatarkwashi, said the donation was part of the state government’s commitment to cushion the hardship being faced by the victims.

  • Sacked but pardoned employee injures boss in robbery attack

    Sacked but pardoned employee injures boss in robbery attack

    A bakery owner has been critically injured while trying to stop his employee from carrying out a robbery attack on his home.

    Sunday Olufemi a.k.a. Omoga allegedly attacked his boss, Abel Kayode Ogunsakin, at the latter’s residence in Shagamu, Ogun State at about 11.30 pm on June 30, 2015.

    It was alleged that on the day in question, Ogunsakin sighted Olufemi sneaking into his residence at No 5, Okedeji Street, Shagamu.

    Our correspondent learnt that Olufemi allegedly beat up Ogunsakin when the latter made to raise the alarm in a bid to apprehend him, but he suffered a bloody face and lost a tooth while Olufemi escaped.

    Bystanders, who were attracted to the scene by the alarm Ogunsakin raised, were said to have taken him to a nearby private hospital for treatment when they noticed that he had lost a lot of blood.

    It was gathered that Olufemi had worked in Ogunsakin’s bakery for three years before he was sacked for misconduct and later reinstated.

    Our correspondent learnt that Olufemi allegedly continued to engage in stealing money from his colleagues and boss shortly after he was reinstated.

    An impeccable source who asked not to be named told our correspondent that “Ogunsakin, who owns Timmy Bakery Ltd, had sacked Olufemi not long ago for engaging in unwholesome acts but reinstated him after some people had pleaded on his behalf.

    Ogunsakin was said to have taken him back when he explained that he had no money to feed his family because he was jobless.

    “Olufemi however continued to engage in all kinds of misconduct, including stealing from his boss and colleagues at work. He narrowly escaped being arrested in April last year when he was caught by his boss inside one of his rooms but he lied that he was taking refuge there to avoid being caught by some assailants who were pursuing him.”

    “Ogunsakin did not know that Olufemi had entered the building through the ceiling and was hiding in the corridor of the house. It was while Ogunsakin was trying to know where Olufemi was hiding that he landed several blows on his face, leading to the loss of his tooth and the blood that covered his face.”

    It was learnt that the incident was first reported to the men of the MTD Station at Sagamu before it was transferred to a police division opposite Awolowo Market, also in Sagamu.

    Our correspondent contacted the spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi for comments, but he had not responded at press time.

  • Suspected thugs attack INEC’s office

    Suspected thugs attack INEC’s office

    •SSG’s home torched 

    Suspected thugs yesterday attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) office in Gembu, the headquarters of Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.

    They torched the home of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Gebon Kataps. He, however, escaped.

    Kataps said on the phone: “They have succeeded in burning down my house. As I speak with you, they have set it ablaze.”

    Kataps, a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) chieftain alleged that trouble started after the collation of votes, which gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) a little lead over the PDP, but not good enough to affect the results released by INEC, which placed PDP ahead.

    Police spokesman Joseph Kwaji confirmed the incident.

    He said they were investigating it.

  • Hoodlums attack commissioner’s home

    Hoodlums attack commissioner’s home

    Suspected hoodlums, on Saturday, stormed the home of Lagos State Commissioner for Transport Kayode Opeifa in Agege, Lagos.

    They were said to have attacked the residence about 1am following a failed attempt to kidnap his brother, Mr Adeyinka Akeem, Executive Secretary of Orile-Agege Local Government Area of Lagos.

    They shot at the massive gate, the building and the two vehicles parked in front of the house.

    It was learnt that the team was led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Agege Federal Constituency, Niyi Raheem.

    Opeifa’s aide, who pleaded not to be named, said they had just returned from preparing for the day’s election when the incident occurred.

    “We were relaxing at the front of the house when we sighted some youths who identified themselves as Awawa boys. When they tried to create a nuisance in the neighbourhood, we dismissed them. Few minutes after, we saw a colleague running as if he was chased. Suddenly, we saw some men clad in black attires wih bullet proofs. As they shot sporadically, we ran into the building. They tried to enter the premises but they couldn’t. We were all at home with the commissioner. It was after the police officer attached to him shot into the air that they stopped and left.  My vehicle was damaged,” he said.

    Speaking with The Nation, the council’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr Oluremi Abosede, said: “I was at my duty post eating when a man entered the office and raised a machete on me. He shook his head and left. As I locked the door, I heard release. They shot once but damaged parked vehicles. They managed to enter the premises thinking Oga was within the premises. Even when people hid inside the council’s canteen, they shot at them.

    “There was no casualty. The man who was injured is now hale and hearty.”

  • Attacks on campaign rallies: APC Senatorial candidate petitions IGP

    Attacks on campaign rallies: APC Senatorial candidate petitions IGP

    The Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti Central Senatorial zone, Gbenga Olofin, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Abba Sulaiman, over weekend attack on his campaign convoy by suspected thugs allegedly working for Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement that in Olofin’s petition copied to the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, National Human Rights Commission and State Director of DSS, he alleged that the attack was carried out by suspected thugs working for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who built road blocks to waylay his campaign convoy at Afao-Ekiti, Fayose’s home town, after a rally in Igbemo-Ekiti. They attacked his party members and supporters.

    The APC candidate explained that the policemen on routine security patrol cleared the roadblocks mounted by PDP thugs, but in anger, the governor allegedly ordered the arrest of his personal security aides. He added that they were being detained at the police headquarters for onward transfer to Abuja.

    Those identified as allegedly participating in the attack included one Bashir Musa Ajagbemokeferi, Tosin alias Tosco, Folorunso, Niran, Ropo Akosile, and Dada Fagbolagun, among others.

    He noted that strings of violence allegedly orchestrated by members and thugs of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were also reported in the state at the weekend, as thugs allegedly loyal to Fayose Sunday morning shot sporadically to the air where APC members had gathered at Ajepe area of Omisanjana in the state capital, destroying their vehicles while the musical instruments of a popular musician, Sese Alhaji, who was entertaining APC members there, were destroyed.

    He said that in the morning attack, APC’s candidate for the House of Assembly for Ado Ekiti Constituency Two, Sola Fatoba, had his vehicle damaged by the thugs. He escaped death by th‎e whiskers.

    His campaign vehicles were badly damaged and bullet pellets littered the scene after the dust settled.

    Elsewhere in Aramoko-Ekiti, APC members were attacked, but curiously, it was those who were attacked that were later arrested by the police.

    Attack on Olofin at the weekend followed recent attack by PDP thugs in Igede-Ekiti, his country home, where thugs suddenly emerged to disrupt his rally.

    “Earlier on January 23, 2015 Fayose’s thugs between 2 – 2.30pm disrupted APC ward meetings in Iyin and Igede-Ekiti while they moved from house to house to inflict machete cuts on APC members. The thugs, who were in Mr. Fayose’s convoy, wore masks and shot sporadically in the two towns while destroying billboards and posters.

    “In that incident, I narrowly escaped death in Igede-Ekiti when Fayose personally led thugs that invaded my home. This was reported in newspapers on January 25, 2015,” Olofin explained in the petition.‎

    He added that during this incident, thugs, after unleashing mayhem on his supporters, allegedly went after petty traders and shop owners, looting their wares in an orgy of violence that temporarily shut down the capital of Irepodu/Ifelodun Local Government of the state.

    Olofin also alleged that in a desperate bid to cause crisis in Ekiti State to enable him clamp down on the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fayose fixed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rallies for Monday through Wednesday, to coincide with APC ‘Walk For Change’ rally by APC vice presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, which had earlier been approved to take place by the police.

    This, he explained, was deliberately done to stoke violence and blame APC for it to enable the governor clamp down on the opposition leaders.

    He called on the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police to call the governor to order to allow democracy to flourish.‎

    “I also call on the international community, especially election observers, to beam their searchlight on Fayose and call him to order to avoid violent clash that could mar Saturday elections,” Olofin concluded.

     

     

  • Attack on Yayi: Matters arising

    Attack on Yayi: Matters arising

    No doubt, political violence is a regular but avoidable part of our partisan politics as a result of the inability of some politicians to abide by the basic tenets of democratic practice.

    The incidence of violence is heightened during electoral campaigns when some political candidates for various offices face each other in a frenetic push to capture power. It is employed to intimidate opponents and their supporters when it is clear that a candidate is set to clinch the position or to scare away electorate from exercising their rights.

    However, even in the common occurrence of political violence, rarely do we come across an opponent personally leading an attack on another candidate. It is usually done by proxies or hirelings as it is not only uncouth and disgraceful, but indicative of such candidate’s unfitness for any public office.

    On Saturday, January 31, 2015, yet another unique form of violence was introduced to Nigerian politics in Lagos West Senatorial District where Hon. Solomon Adeola  aka Yayi,  the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts is in contest on the platform of APC against Mr. Segun Adewale aka Aeroland of PDP for the seat of Lagos West senatorial district.

    For a while, stories abound of the antecedents of Mr. Adewale. But as the saying goes, a leopard can hardly change its spots.

    As reported in at least one national newspaper, The Nation on Sunday February 1, 2015 and a couple of other electronic media, Mr. Adewale personally led an attack on the Adeniyi Jones campaign office of Hon. Adeola at around 7pm.

    The volley of shots at the office dented the rod of the office gates, shattered the rear windshield of Hon. Adeola’s Toyota Land cruiser Jeep, shattered the windows of the personal office of Hon. Adeola, as well as leaving over 20 pellets marks on the wall of the office. Thankfully, only minor injuries were sustained by supporters of Yayi.

    From available information on the incidents, certain irrefutable facts are undeniable. The first is that Mr. Adewale accepted as per the Nation publication that he was at the scene of the gun attack at the time of the incident. He was reported to have said he came to the office to lay complaints to the Police officer at the gate of the defacement of his posters by Hon. Adeola’s supporters. He, however, denied shooting even when there were witnesses including a Policeman attached to Hon. Adeola’s office on the incident.

    While the Nigerian Police continue their painstaking or snail speed investigation as no single arrest has been made on the incident, as I write this in the second week of March, certain conclusions can be drawn from the incident. Was Mr. Adewale right as a candidate of a party to visit the office of his major opponent during the campaign period?

    Assuming we believe his assertion that he only came to his opponent’s office to lay a complaint, the question to ask is whether that office is the Public Complaint Office or a Police station or similar conflict resolution institution. In civilised climes and among cultured humans in a democratic setting, Mr. Adewale should not be seen near his opponent’s office much more leading an armed assault on the office.

    It is provocative in the extreme and some legal opinions concede that were he to have been killed in a possible counter attack during the incident, the argument of self- defense by Hon. Adeola or his security details would have been sustained in a court of law. Indeed Mr. Adewale should be directed to understudy the Watergate Scandal in USA that led to the resignation of a sitting President.

    The crime therein are similar to the case under consideration, albeit that this is more serious as it involves use of arm and ammunitions (six shotgun cartridges were recovered after the incident) by an opponent against another opponent.

    But shortly after his self-indicting reaction to The Nation which has not been refuted, Mr. Adewale quickly changed his story through a post on his Facebook Page http://m.facebook.com/segunaeroland/post/1531664527107170.

    Explaining his presence at Mr. Adeola’s office, Mr. Adewale said his campaign team “was returning from a massive and peaceful rally we held from Ajeromi Ifelodun to Ikeja where our convoy, which was passing through Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja was attacked with several gunshots fired by Hon. Olamilekan Solomon’s supporters and security people”.

    As Hon. Adeola argued in a press conference describing the attack as an assassination attempt, the lie in this is not difficult to see.  Hear him, “A “peaceful rally” from Ajeromi Ifelodun going through Adeniyi Jones after 7pm must have a sinister agenda for the strange route it chooses to pass”.

    The point of Hon. Adeola is that for those that know the terrain, the Adewale campaign team route to either his office or house after his campaign would not have taken him through Adeniyi Jones except he has a business to transact on that street on a Saturday night in his campaign convoy.

    For those that do not know the layout, it is like trying to get to Benin City from Lagos by first going to Abuja! Such is the quixotic route Mr. Adewale chose to get to his supposed destination of his own house or campaign office. Certainly he has other mission in mind for passing that route on the fateful evening.

    Not a few expressed disbelief in this twist to a witnessed violent attack pursuant of democratic competition. Thankfully, the Nigerian Police through its Lagos State Command PPRO, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu in a Punch publication of February 13, 2015, confirmed that the campaign office of Hon. Adeola was attacked on the day in question and investigation is going on. Attacked by who one may ask?

    But as stated above, it is regrettable that so far, not a single arrest has been made with credible witnesses including a Police officer.

    At any event one would counsel that all candidates should sell their credentials for the post they aspire to. This could be done through reaching out to the electorate with their life history, service to community and advantages over their opponents without recourse to violence. It is the electorate that will decide who represent them at the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly.

    Recourse to violence and intimidation is completely undemocratic and should not be associated with an enlightened society like Lagos. All candidates should imbibe and demonstrate their knowledge of democracy to exclude all forms of violence and intimidation. Democratic contest should not be a do or die affair and the earlier candidates to the path of peace, the better for our democracy.

    Odunaro, a media practitioner writes from Lagos