The Executive Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria,Hon. Ramotalai Akinlola Hassan has condemned in its entirety the shooting to death of an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain,Kayode Samuel, popularly called Epo Kinkin, during an incident that occurred at the secretariat of the party in Agboju area,on Thursday,8 July,2021, where the Campaign Flag-Off for re-election of Hon Hassan as Chairman of Oriade LCDA was held.
Addressing the press on Friday at the council secretariat,Hon Hassan stated that the killing of a loving and peaceful Kayode Samuel popularly called ‘Epo ‘ by a yet to be identified gunman was uncalled for and very regrettable, adding that the young politician was a loyal and hardworking executive member of APC in Oriade LCDA.
The council chairman, while expressing her sadness over Kayode’s death, narrated how the sad incident occurred.
She said, ” the campaign flag off had been held and concluded successfully and peacefully, everybody inside the hall, including a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Amuwo Odofin 2,Hon Olawale Rauf Age-Sulaiman were leaving, when suddenly some miscreants surged towards the lawmaker, with the intent to obtain money from him and in the ensuing melee, while trying to shield Hon Olawale from the miscreants,Kayode stepped in front of him, the next thing that happened thereafter was the sound of a gun shot from the crowd”.
Continuing, the council chairman said, “everyone ran helter skelter for safety after the gun shot, but Kayode was seen lying on the ground with heavy blood flow,as he was the one hit by the bullet,he was struggling for help before he was quickly rushed to Nigeria Navy reference hospital Alakija, where he was confirmed dead.
Hon Ramotalai added that the unfortunate killing of the party chieftain at the party secretariat has nothing to do with the campaign flag off exercise as all the 9 candidates vying for elective positions during the July 24 local government election in the state, were unanimously adopted by APC leaders and members in Oriade LCDA, during the recently concluded local government party primaries.
The council chairman,who was a former member of the state House of Assembly commiserated with the family of the deceased and all members of APC in the council area.She urged the police to carry out a thorough investigation about the shooting and bring to book the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the campaign flag off at the party secretariat was the former handing over of APC flag to Hon Ramotalai,as chairmanship candidate of the party in the forthcoming local government election.The flag was handed over to her jointly by chairman of the party in Oriade LCDA,Mr Sabitiu Hassan and apex leader in the council area, Prince Adio Sekoni.
Other candidates who received the party’s flags were the Vice Chairmanship candidate,Hon Moshood Badmus and 7 councillorship candidates in the council area.
The party chairman,Mr Sabitiu and the apex leader, Prince Sekoni in their brief remarks after the handing over of the flags to the candidates, urged party members and eligible voters in Oriade LCDA to come out enmasse on July 24 to vote for APC and all the candidates.
