Africa Press-Nigeria:
The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola has said that political thugs planned the attack on him during the End SARS protest on Saturday in Osogbo.
The incident occurred while the governor was addressing the peaceful protesters.
According to him, political thugs hijacked the exercise and hurled stones and dangerous weapons and vandalised several cars.
Oyetola disclosed that preliminary investigation further revealed that no live bullet or cannister of teargas was fired at the rampaging political thugs, adding that no life was lost at the scene of the incident while he was properly evacuated to safety.
Two lives were reportedly lost on Saturday in Osogbo, but which according to him was not at the scene of the attack.
Read the Full Text of Oyetola
My dear Good People of the State of Osun,
Yesterday evening, political thugs and hoodlums made failed attempts on my life and those of my aides while identifying with our beloved youths who were engaging in legitimate protest against the alleged brutality of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
My entourage and I joined protesters from Alekuwodo area to Olaiya Junction chanting solidarity songs with them and encouraging them along the way. During the course of my address to the protesters to reiterate our cooperation and support, political thugs hijacked the exercise and hurled stones and dangerous weapons at us and vandalised several cars in my convoy.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the commando style with which the assailants carried out their attack was deliberate and pre-planned. It was also evident that it was not the genuine protesters that carried out the violence.
Preliminary investigation further revealed that no live bullet or cannister of teargas was fired at the rampaging political thugs. Therefore, no life was lost at the scene of the incident. I was properly evacuated to safety.
Regrettably, two lives were reportedly lost yesterday. But none occcured during the attack on me. One of the said deaths which was caused by a lone motorcycle accident occurred around 12noon, long before I got to the protest ground.
The second death was said to have occurred around Ayepe, about 5 kilometers away from Olaiya where we held the protest.
We sympathise with the families of the diseased and pray to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the great losses.
I have directed that the incidents be properly investigated with a view to ascertaining the causes of the deaths.
By this week, we shall be setting up a Judicial Panel of Enquiry in line with the directive of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to investigate all related cases of abuse and brutality by the disbanded SARS. This panel will also investigate yesterday’s attack.
What happened on Saturday is objectionable, unacceptable and a blight to the Omoluabi ethos that the State of Osun stands for.
Attempt on the life of the governor cannot be planned by the youths who constituted over 60 per cent of the voters that elected us into office and had embarked on successful and peaceful road walks with us several times in the past.
