- As APC Suspends Meeting Over Violence In Ijebu-Ijesa
By Ismaeel Uthman
A retired United States Navy officer, Bamidele Fagbulu, Ph.D, has accused the Caretaker Chairman of Oriade Local Government of the State of Osun, Mr Bunmi Obeisun, of leading hoodlums to attack him on Wednesday in Ijebu-Jesa.
Fagbulu alleged that Obeisun first slapped him before ordering the hoodlums to descend on him in front of First Bank, Market Square, Ijebu-Jesa around 11:30am.
According to Fagbulu, the LG chairman asked him to leave where he was standing but he refused, asking why he would be asked to leave.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, Fagbulu said: “My name is Dr. Bamidele Famose Fagbulu, Ph.D. I am a 62 years old man. I am a retired Officer with the United States Navy and have been home in Nigeria since Christmas.
“I was standing in front of First Bank at about 11.30 am this morning when Bunmi Obeisun asked what l was doing there. I ignored him because l didn’t recognise him until when someone told me that he is the chairman.
“He then asked me to leave and l asked why. That made him angry and he shouted at me to keep moving, l ignored him. To my consternation, Bunmi Obeisun slapped me. Maybe he thought that l will retaliate which l did not. He immediately beckons on his thugs, about 18 of them and ordered them to assault and move me away from where l was standing.
“I was physically abused and tortured on Bunmi Obeisun order by Bunmi Obeisun boys.
“Where l was standing is a public place in front of First Bank. I was not standing in front of Bunmi Obeisun house, nor in front of his office.
“When l recovered from the physical torture, l went straight to Elegboro palace to reports the ugly incident to Kabiyesi and to also show him the scars on my face and body.
“Bunmi Obeisun should remember that one day he will leave that office and how is he going to relate with me and other indigenes of Egboroland that he has crossed.?”
A palace source confirmed to OSUN DEFENDER that Fagbulu actually reported the assault on him to the palace.
The source said: “Dr Fagbulu was at the palace to report that the local government chairman, Obeisun assaulted him. We did not have reason to doubt Dr Fagbulu because he is a responsible and respected man in the community.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that another residents of Ijebu-Jesa, Mrs Yemisi Adediran and Dare Famuyiwa were also allegedly beaten in her shop by the same hoodlums that assaulted Famose.
Findings revealed that the LG Chairman was out yesterday with his boys to allegedly attack members of the APC who belonged to Hon Rasaq Salinsile-led faction.
The Salinsile faction was to hold a meeting at IK Dairo park, located around the Ijebu-Jesa central mosque.
But the meeting could not hold as hoodlums, alleged acting on the order of Obeisun stormed the venue of the programme and destroyed the chairs and canopies there.
The development led to the suspension of the meeting.
When contacted on phone, the chairman said he was in a meeting and text message sent to his phone was not replied as at time of filling this report.
