The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pinned the blame for the stoning of President Buhari, Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi on Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
The APC’s presidential campaign rally at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, came to a riotous end on Monday, February 11, 2019 when some members of the crowd began hurling stones and bottles at party chieftains on a raised platform.
It took a security official’s quick feet to prevent President Buhari from being hit by a projectile from what increasingly became an unruly audience.
Amosun’s candidate is different from APC candidate
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is openly backing Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to succeed him after his party, the APC, recognized the winner of another primary election, Dapo Abiodun, as the APC governorship flagbearer of the Southwest state.
Violence broke out at the APC rally when Oshiomhole, Amaechi, Buhari and other party chieftains recognized and endorsed Abiodun.
In a press statement signed by APC spokesperson Lanre Issa-Onilu, the governing party said Amosun was responsible for the embarrassment party chieftains were treated to in Ogun.
The party also said Amosun will be punished for anti-party activities.
“The APC regrets Monday’s premeditated attacks sponsored by Governor Ibikunle Amosun on President Muhammadu Buhari and other senior party leaders at the venue of the presidential campaign rally in Ogun state,” the statement read.
“This is one act of indiscipline too many. The APC will not condone acts of indiscipline, indiscretion and anti-party activities from any party member no matter how highly placed”.
The APC also promised to review the incident.
“The party will review this gross misconduct of deliberately positioning thugs to attack and embarrass the President and the party’s leadership. No single person will be allowed to put his personal and selfish interests ahead of the wishes of the people of Ogun state and elsewhere.
“Post primaries, the decision of the National Working Committee to uphold the wishes of party members is unbendable. Therefore, whatever means being presently deployed by persons intending to undermine the wishes of the people for personal gains will not be tolerated”, the statement further read.
At some point during the rally, Amosun pleaded for calm from the audience, asking them not to disgrace him.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also begged the irate youth for calm.
But the pleas fell on deaf ears as the crowd became more unruly as the event wore on.
Buhari charged the audience to vote for whoever they like during the election.
