The usual violent political contestation in the capital of Ogun State, Abeokuta, took a new turn recently when some property belonging to Hon Akeem Babatunde Bello was vandalized. This was made known to newsmen after some hoodlums loyal to one of the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) invaded his house, with dangerous weapon, asking for his whereabout.
This incident was said to have been instigated by his political opponent, Taofeek Olabode, who was said to have been ratified by the Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to contest for the membership of Ogun State House of Assembly. As a quintessential godfather, Amosun’s support for Olabode was reported to have been so strong as Olabode had served as a substantive Local Government Chairman.
Before the attack, there have been speculations that Olabode had engaged the service of touts to launch a campaign of calumny against Hon Bello who was said to have been on vacation in the United States of America.
Hon Bello, a secret supporter LGBTQ community, used to be a close associate of Governor Ibikunle Amosun until he decided to turn his back against him by supporting Olabode. Ogun State has always been known to political violence involving the governor Ibikunle Amosun himself.
In recent past, Ogun state had witnessed many unresolved political assassinations. The murder of the 2007 gubernatorial candidate of Action Congress (AC) in Ogun State, Otunba Adedipupo Dina, heated the political temperature of Nigeria. Dina was murdered near Covenant University, Ota, while returning from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where he had held a meeting with his political associates. His murder came few days after DHL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Ade Komolafe, died in a London hospital following an alleged politically motivated attack.
Others that have been reportedly assassinated politically include: Chief Dele Arojo, Age Omolemomu, Barrister Morakinyo Ayopo, Tunde Aloba, Otunba Olumayowa Olukoya (former SSG). Chief Dele Arojo, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant, was on a Monday night in 2002, shot dead by unknown assailants. Arojo who was in the turn of Yewa in the governorship position of the state was said to have been shot dead at Egbeda in Alimoso Local Government in Lagos State at about 9 pm.
