A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain has fled Ogun state, Southwest Nigeria following the killing of a party member in Ota, Ogun State in a gun battle incident which occured on 5 July 2017.
Olatunji Sokunbi who switched from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to the main opposition party, PDP in order to contest the 2019 poll, told Chronicle NG that he and others have been a target of his former party.
The Ogun state House of Assembly aspirant, while speaking via telephone from his safe house, he explained that he was returning from Ogun West Senatorial District meeting of the PDP members in Aiyetoro and was in the entourage of his party leader, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu.
He explained that they stopped by Oke Ide area of Ota to pay a solidarity visit to some party members who had been arrested based on complaint by a rival faction of the party, led by one Prince Segun Seriki.
Sokunbi explained that Adebutu supported defectors financially by providing them free legal services to secure their bail and as a defector was obliged to join the team.
He said just as they were leaving they heard gunshots and saw people scampering for safety.
He explained that members of his party, Mr. Mutiu Agbaje and one Mojeed, a personal ally, were shot by persons believed to be working for the opposition.
“I fear for my life and that of my family, we have fled from one state to another but still no succour, we are in constant danger, and you will recalled that my father also died in the hands of these assailants before his time” he said.
He urged the police to come to his aid. “I have called on the police to offer protection but they have failed to do so. Instead declaring me wanted for complicity in the murders! Imagine, how can that be possible, killing people in my own train, when we were all scampering for safety together he queried. They are no different from card-carrying members of APC, they are partisan,” he told Chronicle NG.
The Southwest region of Nigeria is controlled by the ruling APC.
