Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Women members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to order in the state.
Speaking on the backdrop of recent violent political clashes in Kwara leading to loss of lives and property, the women said they hold the APC supporters responsible.
It would be recalled that on Sunday, January 13, 2019, there was a bloody clash between supporters of the two parties in Agbaji, the homestead of Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is now at a vicious dagger-drawn with the APC.
However, leaders of the APC made up of its governorship candidate, chairman of the party in the state, Senatorial, House of Representatives and others had, at a press conference, fingered Saraki and his followers as well as the PDP in the violent clashes.
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The APC, through their spokesperson, Dr. Yahaya Oloriegbe, who is also the Kwara Senatorial candidate of the party, contesting against Sarak,i listed some of his followers they suspected were unleashing terror on the people.
However, the PDP women in Ilorin, last Tuesday, at a press conference addressed by their leader, Alhaja Ramata Oganija, alleged that maiming and killing of “innocent people in the state capital” were done by “APC thugs”.
Ganija, who dressed in black attires along with others, said women as mothers were sad at the orgy of bloody clashes in Ilorin, reputed for its “harmonious and peaceful” atmosphere.
She called on President Buhari to intervene promptly to arrest the situation and as well cause security agencies to arrest and prosecute suspected perpetrators of political clashes particularly that of 13th January in Agbaji, Ilorin.
Her words; “We urge President Muhammadu Buhari, as the father of the nation to look beyond party affiliation, and partisanship and direct the security agencies to apprehend and prosecute all those who have been disturbing the peace of Kwara state and their sponsors.”
Hajia Oganija was flanked by other women leaders of her party namely; two former PDP women leaders, Alhaja Muslimat Ibrahim and Alhaja Sarat Adebayo as well as two current members of the state’s House of Assembly, Alhaja Sikirat Anako and Alhaja Segilola AbdulKadir.
While the APC claimed one of their members were killed, 50 wounded and 30 vehicles damaged in the fracas, the PDP women said, “At least, 11 persons sustained gunshot wounds while 50 vehicles and valuable properties were destroyed at Agbaji quarters”.
