12 INJURED IN AKALA, GBOLARUMI'S SUPPORTERS CLASH

Akala
Fear of possible violence has heightened in Ogbomoso, hometown of Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao Akala, ahead of a planned 'sensitization rally' by opposition group within the crisis-ridden state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the governor's second term bid today.

The anxiety is coming less than 48 hours after a skirmish between the supporters of Governor Akala and his estranged former deputy, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi, at Yemetu area of Ibadan in which no fewer than 12 people were reportedly wounded.

Today's charge is being led by former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Lekan Balogun, former Deputy-National Chairman (South) of the party, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and scion of the former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief S.L Akintola, Ambassador Yomi Akintola, who is also Akala's kinsman.

Others billed to attend the rally, according to a press statement issued by the chief host, Hon. Ayo Adeseun, the incumbent Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation are former Minister for Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese and Senate Leader, Teslim Kolawole Folarin.

Also to be in attendance at the Yunus Akintunde-led PDP state Implementation Committee initiative are two former secretaries to the state government, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli and Mr Dele Adigun, Hon. Fatai Buhari, Hon Ademola Alalade and seven of the 14 serving members of the House of Representatives.

Also, the suspended Majority-Leader of the state House of Assembly, Samuel Ademola Adejumobi will lead eight anti-Akala lawmakers in the state legislature among others, Daily Sun learnt.

Adeseun, who is the Chairman, Ogbomoso Solidarity Forum (OSF) stated that all the people of Ogbomosoland from across the five councils in the area are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the party bigwigs who are billed to address the rally. Some people in the state are expressing fears of a possible clash between Alao Akala's supporters and the group, in light of campaign of intolerance that seems to be dominating politicking in the state, ahead of the 2011 general elections.

But, to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order, the State Commissioner of Police, Baba Adisa Bolanta, on Wednesday evening reportedly held a peace meeting with top politicians in the state.

The meeting, Daily Sun learnt stemmed from fears making the rounds that a faction was warming up to disrupt the rally believed to be staged to give the impression that the governor was no longer popular among his kinsmen in Ogbomosoland.

One of the conveners, Akintunde, said the rally was to have been held last Friday, but was shifted, because the governor's loyalists also slated another programme for the day in the town.

Efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police by press time were fruitless as he had switched off his mobile phone. It was, however, gathered from the State Police Command that the police chief was away on official duty in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.