For the first time in the last three years, Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday witnessed a violent clash that turned the ceremony meant to honour the third executive governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Adefarati into a bloody scene.
The memorial lecture organised in honour of the late former governor was disrupted by thugs loyal to the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria and the ruling Labour Party in the state.
Supporters of the two rival political parties threw caution to the wind about noon at BTO Hall in Akure, venue of the lecture and engaged themselves in fisticuffs, leaving some people with broken limbs, damaged cars and torn clothes.
Violence was said to have broken out between supporters of the parties when some thugs loyal to the ACN decided not to allow LP members who served under the former governor or were close to him into the venue.
This development was said to have infuriated the LP supporters around who decided to retaliate by also blocking ACN leaders from entering the venue. Dr Oni was prevented from entering the venue of the lecture.
When contacted for comment, the state secretary of the ACN, Prince Adegboyega Adedipe blamed the police and LP members for the crisis. He alleged that LP members did not come to attend the programme but to disrupt it.
But in his response, the LP director of publicity, Prince Koye Odogiyan said it was ACN thugs that caused the crisis.?
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ondo State Police Command,Mr Adeniran Aremu confirmed the clash between the supporters of the ACN and LP, but said the situation was put under control by the prompt intervention of the police.