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Agbaje convoy attacked, denied use of hall as he laments growing intolerance

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Hoodlums believed to be supporters of a ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Thursday attacked the campaign team of the Lagos Governorship Candidate of the Peoples  Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

The attack, which left some members of his entourage sustaining minor injuries, took place after he visited the palace of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni in Ojo Local Government area of the state.

Agbaje was also denied use of the Ojo Town Hall that PDP leaders had earlier booked for their council’s version of the series of town hall meetings he had been holding around the state.

Instead, the PDP candidate shifted the event to the sidewalk of the ever-busy busy Olojo Drive, in Ojo Local Government, where he hosted hundreds of supporters, under the watchful eyes of police.

Agbaje complained during the town hall meeting: “We said we wanted to hold this event inside the local government hall, a facility that belongs to all of us. We paid for the hall, but they refuse us the use.”

However, he said that the deprivation had turned into a blessing in disguise, as the event had attracted a larger crowd than originally anticipated.

Agbaje who had on his way to the palace stopped to exchange pleasantries with APC members returning from a meeting in the area, lamented the growing intolerance of the ruling party in the state against opposition figures and supporters.

His words: “Elections are about choice; it is about democracy. There is so much intolerance on the part of ruling party to having people choose their preferred candidates.”

Earlier, vehicles in Agbaje’s convoy of about a dozen were attacked and damaged, including a Toyota Coaster bus that had its rear glass broken, while a Toyota “Hummer” bus had a side glass broken.

Although the candidate himself escaped unhurt, several supporters sustained various degrees of injury and were left bleeding after some ruffians, believed to be loyal to the ruling party, gave the PDP team a hot chase with guns, knives, machetes and other assault weapons.

They first launched their attack after Agbaje and his team paid a courtesy visit to the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Iba.

Left injured were: Tunde Lawal, Toheeb Alamu, Dayo Sofola and Segun Moyo, who were stabbed.

Some on the entourage lost valuables, such as phones and cash belonging to: Olufemi Musbau, Ajoke Sanni, Banji Ibrahim, Omolara Wonuola, Michael Mba, Mutiu Badiru and Kalu Austin.

After the town hall meeting on Olojo Road, Ojo, hoodlums once again gave the departing convoy a hot chase, with stones and bottles flying after the fleeing vehicles.

However, the situation was brought under control by police who shot into the air to dissuade the stubborn pursuers from their evil design.

At the town hall meeting that held at Olojo Drive, in Ojo, Agbaje praised the ethnic diversity of Lagos and said the multifaceted character of the city lent to its appeal.

“We are not driving anybody away from Lagos,” he said.

According to him, the level of underdevelopment that the state had suffered had brought much suffering to the people now craving for freedom from the hardship under which they groaned.

“We shall win the State House of Assembly, we shall win the Senate seat, we shall win the House of Representatives, we shall win the governorship and PDP shall win the presidential election,” he predicted.

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