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Tag: Lola Ashiru

  • Offa robbery: Senator-elect urges unity, prayers one year after

    One year after the robbery attack on banks in Offa, Kwara, Kwara South Senator-elect, Mr Lola Ashiru, has called for prayers, unity and peaceful co-existence among the people of the community for progress.

    In a message signed by his media aide, Kemi Olaitan, on Friday, Ashiru said that the people would collectively develop the community only in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

    He advised the community members to look forward for a better future.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some heavily armed hoodlums had in April 2018 attacked some commercial banks Offa, carting away an unspecified amount of money.

    No fewer than 33 people including a pregnant woman and policemen lost their lives to the armed robbery.

    Those arrested in connection with robbery are facing trial before an Ilorin High Court.

    Ashiru said that socio-economic development witnessed in the community in recent times showed the people’s collective desire to forge ahead and put the ugly incident behind them.

    He said there were still high expectations on the people, both indigenes and non-indigenes, toward ensuring unity.

    Ashiru said that intensified prayers were needed for the progress, growth and development of Offa and the entire Kwara.

    READ ALSO: Offa robbery: Court refuses post-mortem examination of dead suspect

    The senator-elect expressed the hope that justice would soon be done in the robbery case.

    He praised the Olofa-in-Council headed by Oba Muftau Gbadamosi, the Olofa of Offa, the Offa Descendant Union, various unions, market leaders and other groups and individuals for their dedication and steadfastness.

    “A year ago, terror was unleashed on the good people of Offa which led to the death of 33 innocent people.

    “The perpetrators were brutal and merciless, but the humanity and compassion of our people overcame the horror of the attackers.

    Today’s remembrance is to honour the memory of our loved ones who lost their lives to the unfortunate incidence, and to celebrate the bravery, humanity and unity of our community men who stood against all odds to cater for the wounded and agitate for justice,’’ he said.

    Ashiru said that the heroism of the community was worthy of commendation.

    “As we remember the incident and soberly reflect on our losses, we should endeavour to imbibe unity in our prayers for the departed souls.

    “As we anticipate a swift justice on the perpetrators, we pray for God’s protection on Offa community, Kwara State and Nigeria at large,” he said.

  • ‘Minority will not lead next Senate’

    Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) senator-elect Lola Ashiru yesterday said the Ninth National Assembly will not make the mistake of the Eighth Senate in its choice of leadership.

    He added that a minority party would not be allowed to lead the majority, saying political abnormalities that characterised the election of leaders in the outgoing National Assembly would not happen in the new legislative assembly.

    Ashiru, an architect, spoke with reporters in Offa, Offa local government, saying, the new National Assembly would witness a cohesive and acceptable leadership to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts.

    The senator-elect said: “With my interactions with other senators-elect in APC, they have common mind of one Nigeria devoid of parochial interest to make the nation move ahead.

    “ Few of our members have signified intention to take a slot at the Senate presidency and they are credible members to take the leadership.

    “I believe that politics is about competition and I know that this Ninth Assembly would not be like that of the Eighth Assembly because there is no more room for political  abnormalities as experienced during the Eighth assembly.

    “During the period, a lot of abnormalities happened where minority party emerged as the leadership of the National Assembly and I am saying it now that such act will never happen in the Ninth Assembly because APC is in majority and more united now than ever  to provide a good leadership and to make laws for the good governance of the country.”

    Ashiru also said the struggle for political freedom in the state, which lasted 40 years, would not be wasted.

    “We went through political hell in the last 20 years and thank God we are finally out of it. We will never go back to that era, we won’t return to Egypt,”he said.

    Speaking about his plans, he  said in the first three months in office, he would bring about a political rebirth in the political nomenclature of Kwara South.

    He added that the political rebirth would ensure continuous development and provide opportunity for people to remove any non-performing elected officers as was done through O to ge movement in the last election.

    He added that the rebirth would bring about unprecedented developments in the senatorial district and would also provide a sound  leadership platform that would outlive him.

    Ashiru. added that the traditional rulers in the area would be engaged to effectively perform their traditional obligations to the people of their domain.

  • Kwara PDP faults arrest of Senatorial candidate

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday accused the Kwara state police command of arresting its Kwara South senatorial candidate, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly election.

    Senator Ibrahim was said to have been arrested on Thursday in connection with this week Tuesday’s violence in Ojoku, Oyun local government area of the state.

    Suspected thugs loyal to Senator Ibrahim on Tuesday this week allegedly attacked the campaign train of the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara south senatorial district in Ojoku, Lola Ashiru.

    In the process two APC members were shot dead, eight injured and about 20 vehicles belonging to Ashiru, an architect, were allegedly vandalised.

    Ojoku, is the country home of Dr Ibrahim, a serving Senator.

    PDP chair in the state Kola Shittu, an engineer, said that six of PDP members sustained injuries from gunshots.

    Shittu added that the senator had since denied any involvement in the mayhem.

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in the also Friday condemned the arrest of Senator Ibrahim describing it as unlawful.

    CNPP said Ibrahim’s arrest and detention by the police since Thursday confirmed its earlier position that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government in connivance with security agencies planned a clampdown on opposition leaders in the state.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital the chairman of the CNPP Alhaji Adebayo Lawal, said that the federal lawmakers arrest was part of plot to scuttle the electoral process in Kwara state and subvert the will of the people.

    He urged the international community to intervene and not only ensure the release of Senator Ibrahim, but guide against unlawful arrest of opposition figures in the state.

    Adebayo added: “Barely 24 hours to the Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections, officers of the Nigerian Police Force, who were visibly acting on the orders of the presidency, forcefully arrested and detained Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, the senator representing Kwara South senatorial district, and the candidate of the PDP for the election. Up till this moment, Senator Rafiu, who is a major contender for Kwara South senatorial district election like our other candidates, is yet to be released.

    “Similarly, in the past few days, more than 20 members of different opposition parties in the State have been indiscriminately arrested by security agencies and taken to unknown destinations up to the time of making this release. This is a repeat of what happened during last year’s bye-election in Irepodun/Oke-Ero/Isin/Ekiti Federal Constituency, where top members of the PDP and opposition Parties were unlawfully arrested on the eve of the election.

    “We have received information that the high hierarchy of the Police has ordered that Senator Rafiu Ibrahim must not be released, which is a deliberate ploy to keep him out of circulation before and during the elections. This is unacceptable, unlawful, and undemocratic and a primitive show of power by a party that is well-known for abuse of power, federal institutions and flouting of court orders with impunity. The desperation of the APC to win elections at all costs portends great danger for our nascent democracy.

    “It is unfortunate that a serving lawmaker who is loved by his people for his sterling performance in the Senate can be subjected to this kind of inhumane treatment on the unsubstantiated accusation from the APC. If the peace-loving Senator Rafiu Ibrahim is clamped upon in this manner, our other Candidates are also prone to such flagrant abuse of power. There is no feasible evidence to show that the detained Senator had any connection with the Tuesday’s political attack in Ojoku, which happens to be his hometown. We are not saying the Security Agents should not do their jobs, but to choose the eve of the general elections to detain a strong contender is portraying the Security Agencies as being partisan to the clear advantage of the Candidate of the APC. To assume that the lawmaker could have engineered violence against his own town and people is in the least untenable. Attempts to link him to the fracas are political and unfortunate.

    “Few weeks ago, when we raised the alarm over the planned crackdown on members of opposition parties in Kwara by the APC-led FG, some cohorts of the APC dismissed it as a false alarm. But we have been vindicated now as we all are now witnesses to what is going on in the State right now. We condemn the use of state security by the APC to harass and intimidate innocent opposition members all in the name of politics and desperate bid to scheme out other candidates in favour of the Candidates of the APC. This is a shameful display of state power.

    “We invite members of the fourth estate of the realm, local and international observers, civil society groups, well-meaning Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to rise in condemnation of this unlawful detention of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim and other opposition members and also demand for their immediate release. We all have a duty to protect democracy and save the sanctity of our electoral process.

    “We equally want to place on record that we are seriously concerned about the obvious partisanship of the security operatives now in Kwara for the elections. It is highly unfortunate that security men who are meant to be non-partisan as had been in the past here have now decided to take sides against opposition parties and do the bidding of the party in power. This is bad for our democracy. That is why we are disappointed are of the conviction that the elections in Kwara will not be free, fair and credible.”

  • Police arrest four over killing of Kwara APC members

    The Kwara state police command on Thursday arrested four persons in connection with the attack on All Progressives Congress (APC) Kwara South senatorial district candidate Lola Ashiru.

    Suspected hoodlums loyal to Kwara south Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Rafiu Ibrahim had on Tuesday allegedly attacked the campaign train of Architect Ashiru in Ojoku, Oyun local government area of Kwara state, killing two APC members in the process.

    No fewer than eight people still in the hospital also sustained bullet wound injuries and about 20 vehicles belonging to the APC chieftain were allegedly vandalized.

    The PDP in the state had disagreed with the allegation, accusing APC thugs of allegedly attacking its members and inflicting bullet injuries on six.

    Spokesperson of the command, Ajayi Okasanmi told THE NATION in a telephone the command was closing in on other suspects of the dastardly act.

    Read Also: Polls: Police reads riot act to politicians, hoodlums in Imo

    “Manhunt for the remaining fleeing suspects had since begun, while discreet investigation of the incident is ongoing.

    “For the umpteenth time, the command is restating its commitment to the safety of lives and property of the people of Kwara state.

    “While warning sternly that hooliganism, thuggery,  unlawful possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons will be met with superior forces and suspects arrested will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Political party leaders are reminded of the peace accord they signed with respect to political campaigns in the State.

    “The command is appealing to the victims of this attack and their

    sympathizers not to result to self-help but to have confidence in the command that justice will not only be done but will be seen to have been done in this case,” Okasanmi.

    State Chairman of APC Hon Bashir Bolarinwa has urged security agents to investigate the matter bring perpetrators to book.

  • Police confirm attack on Kwara APC senatorial candidate, others

    The Kwara State Police Command yesterday confirmed the attack on the campaign train of Kwara South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lola Ashiru, by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs loyal to its Kwara South senatorial candidate, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim in Ojoku, Oyun Local Government Area.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “We received with astonishment the reported attack unleashed on Lola Ashiru, the APC senatorial candidate for Kwara South and his campaign train in Ojoku, Oyun Local Government Area, on Tuesday evening.

    “Immediately the report was received, Police Commissioner Kayode Egbetokun dispatched to the scene of the attack at Ojoku a team of policemen, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ilemona and the Squadron Commander, 68 PMF, Offa.

    “The teams successfully brought the situation under control, rescued the candidate unhurt and arrested suspects, who were actively involved in the attack and restored peace.

    “A manhunt for the remaining fleeing suspects has since begun while discreet investigation of the incident is ongoing.

    “For the umpteenth time, the command is restating its commitment to the safety of lives and property of the people of Kwara State. It warns that hooliganism, thuggery, unlawful possession of firearms and other weapons will be met with superior forces and suspects arrested will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Political party leaders are reminded of the peace accord they signed with respect to political campaigns in the state.

    “The command is appealing to the victims of this attack and their sympathisers not to resort to self-help but to have confidence in the command that justice will not only be done but will be seen to have been done in this case.”

  • Gunmen attack APC Senatorial candidate in Kwara

    Kwara Police Command has confirmed that gunmen attacked a Senatorial Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Arch. Lola Ashiru, and his campaign train in Ojoku in Irepodun Local Government area of the state.

    A statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, DSP, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Wednesday.

    The statement quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Kayode Egbetokun, as saying that police officers were dispatched to the scene at Ojoku immediately the report of the gunmen attack on Ashiru was received Wednesday evening.

    Ashiru is the APC candidate for Kwara South Senatorial District.

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap 70-year-old retiree

    The statement read in parts: “a team of policemen, led by the DPO Ilemona and the Squadron Commander 68 Pmf, Offa successfully brought the situation under control and rescued the candidate unhurt.

    “It said that suspects, who were actively involved in the attack, were arrested and peace was restored.

    “Manhunt for the remaining fleeing suspects had since begun, while discreet investigation of the incident is ongoing.

    “The Command is restating its commitment to the safety of lives and property of the people of Kwara State.

    “While warning sternly that hooliganism, thuggery, unlawful possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons will be met with superior forces and suspects arrested will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Political party leaders are reminded of the peace accord they signed with respect to political campaigns in the state.

    “The Command is appealing to the victims of this attack and their sympathisers not to result to self-help rather have confidence in the command that justice will not only be done, but will be seen to have been done in this case.

    “The following GSM numbers can be called when in distress before, during and after the elections”, it said.