The police yesterday blamed the Minister of Interior, Chief Rauf Aregbesola, for the recent mayhem in Osogbo, the state capital.
Also, the Osun State Government condemned the shooting, warning that any unruly action by any individual, no matter highly placed, will be checked legally.
A statement by Police spokesman SP Yemisi Opalola explained that Aregbesola’s conduct breached public peace.
She said: “Yesterday’s action was conduct likely to cause a breach of the public peace. About 5:30pm, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola was moving in a convoy of personnel of NSCDC, Correctional Service, Immigration, as well as some unidentified armed people, suspected to be political thugs, on Orisumbare/MDS road, Osogbo.
“Suddenly, some of the security escorts of the minister started shooting sporadically into the air without any provocation or attack, thereby causing members of the public to scamper for safety.
“Thirteen empty shells of G-3, assault, and AK-47 rifles were recovered on the road after the minister’s departure. No casualty was recorded. The situation is under close monitoring.”
However, the spokesperson of NSCDC, Atanda Olabisi, in a statement, attributed the mayhem to “unknown hoodlums.”
He said: “The Osun State Commandant NSCDC, Emmanuel Ocheja, has assured residents of the state of adequate security, amid the mayhem caused by some unscrupulous elements in the state capital today.
“Unknown hoodlums attacked the convoy of the former Governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola about 6:40pm around Old Garage Area in Osogbo, the state capital. However, the security detail of the minister were able to disperse the hoodlums and bring normalcy to the area.”
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) advised the camps of Aregbesola and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to embrace peace in the interest of the state.
The council regretted that the clash between the opposing camps is capable of plunging the state into anarchy.
IPAC Chairman Wale Adebayo said in a statement that the crisis is capable of painting the state in bad light.
Urging the major actors in the Monday shooting to call their men to order, Adebayo urged the two respected leaders to embrace peace.
He added: “It is obvious that democracy can only thrive in a peaceful atmosphere. It is our only hope of building a strong, virile, stable, prosperous and a just society”.
The state government maintained that the roadshow by Aregbesola was organised to truncate the peace of the state.
Special Adviser to Oyetola on Political Matters Sunday Akere speaking during the endorsement by APC members in Ila Federal Constituency, said: “There is no truth in the claim that Aregbesola wanted to be assassinated. What they are trying to do is to cause crisis in the state, probably for them to get sympathy and to make the Federal Government declare a state of emergency.
“Aregbesola came to town to terrorise residents of the state. It is the game plan of Aregbesola which we all know. We know his orientation, thinking and plans in the state. We can’t be surprised by his actions. What he is trying to do is to intimidate voters ahead of the primary election of APC in Osun.
“We want the Presidency to call him to order. Aregbesola is no more representing the interest of Osun, but his own interest. Most of his aides as a minister are not from Osun State. He will never succeed with his personal agendas in Osun State.
Akere also denied the claim that some people planned to assassinate the minister, saying it was unfounded.
