Candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, for Ibadan North West/ South West federal constituency election, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi and Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku respectively are trading words over the destruction of campaign billboards and posters.
Fijabi is a two-term member of the House of Representatives and he is seeking a third term. Ajanaku, who contested the APC primaries with Fijabi, is contesting under ZLP.
Ajanaku, in a statement to OYO INSIGHT, had reported how his billboards were destroyed today by the people suspected to be thugs working for the ruling APC.
The affected billboards include a double-sided 48-sheet infront of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training(IAR&T) Apata, as well as Dogo Area and Mile 110 at Odo-Ona.
According to a statement by Ajanaku’s media office, “an Hilux bus conveyed the armed thugs(both male and female) numbering twenty to the locations. It was reported that a sympathiser who attempted to snap them while their heinous act was going on was shot and he is recuperating in an undisclosed hospital. His phone was also smashed.”
“It is apparent that today’s attack was a fallout of Hon. Rotimi Ajanaku’s interview on two private radio stations. Ajanaku had earlier featured on news and current affairs programmes on Star FM and Fresh FM where he discussed issues bordering on his exit from APC and previous attack on his team by a serving lawmaker and his father.”
“It will be recalled that this is not Ajanaku’s first experience of APC’s political intolerance. His billboard at Adamasingba was removed on the order of the state government. Also, his 96- sheet billboard at Iyaganku junction was replaced with Saheed Fijabi’s campaign,” the statement added.
But in a swift reaction, Fijabi who spoke on the phone with this newspaper dismissed the allegation, saying he is too matured for that.
“Would you believe I someone tell you that I tore people’s posters? I should be the leveling allegation against him because virtually all the billboards, especially those at IAR&T and 110 junction have been destroyed. Not long ago, I saw some boys destroying our billboards and posters. Did you know what I did? I called and counseled them,” he added.
