•…we are not backing down! This liberation has come to stay.
The convener of the New Alimosho Movement, Alhaji Abiodun Ejigbadero has discribed the rumour making rounds in Alimosho that he was detained at the Lagos State Police Headquarters during the weekend as a result of the incident that happened in the premises of Alimosho Local Government Council last Thursday.
Speaking to Alimosho TV, Ejigbadero said, “it amazed me when calls and messages kept pouring in that I was detained and also got wounded during the fracas in the council. On that faithful day, I was coming from Surulere when I recieved a SOS call from one of my followers that he was attacked in the council for being loyal to me. Hearing this, it was incumbent on me to go and see what was happening but on getting there, I was harassed. We were just four in numbers and our attackers were armed with dangerous weapons which included broken bottles, matchets and so on.”
When asked about the story concerning his arrest and deten, he said, “I would not want to talk much on the issue because the Police is still carrying out their investigation. But disregard the rumour that I was injured. As you can see, I do not have injuries or whatsoever. Also, on our arrival at the council, we met over two hundred armed thugs. I can tell you categorically that these boys were saying they had been instructed to assassinate me. I had to leave the scene immediately for two reasons;
The settings was not safe for me being one dominated by armed hoodlums.
My further stay could be interpreted to mean a visit for violent attack.
As for the vandalised properties, the Council Chairman, Hon. Sulaiman Jelili should be questioned as he was the one who invited armed thugs to the Council. They must have perpetrated the vandalism. They are definitely responsible for the damages because they were the ones throwing chairs and other dangerous weapons.”
On the contrary, Alani Babatunde, a media aide to Alhaji Abdullah Enilolobo, on his several posts emphasized that Ejigbadero and Prince Oluomo of Isheri could not deny being detained at the Lagos State Police Command. According to him, “they were detained and that is the truth.”
Ejigbadero however, condemned the leadership structure of the All Progressives Congress in Alimosho that it favours only a few at the expense of the party members.
He queried, “what qualifies one to be an apex leader? Is it by age? Is it by the number of years in politics? Is it by services in the past – both in public and private life or either? I still do not get it”, he enthused.
When asked if the struggle would be stopped since the Police was involved, he said, “this is politics. The duty of the Police is peace-keeping in the society and not political issue. One point I need to emphasize is this, this fight for freedom is beyond me. I do not have a total control over it. So, I cannot say we are backing down. And one thing is sure – this liberation has come to stay. Party members are suffering. They are not happy. You cannot keep coercing people to pledge loyalty to you. Loyalty is earned, you do not force it.”
Caveat: Alimosho TV is reporting what is make available to it.
