The Ibadan North State Constituency II in Oyo had some political thugs loyal to Honourable Adebayo Babajide Gabriel who attacked one Journalist Oladapo Ibikunle on Saturday along Sango-Poly Road in Ibadan.
According to the journalist, Mr Oladapo Ibikunle, who is the Chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Correspondent and also the publisher of an online news platform, Penangle.com, the thugs tried to overtake him as he was coming from the University of Ibadan and driving towards the Ibadan Polytechnic Road.
In his narration to his colleagues in a statement ,he posted on the Oyo State NUJ platform, stating that he tried to give way for the lawmaker’s convoy to go through but the road was too narrow and the presence of some motorcyclists in front of his car also made this impossible.
The journalist said in his state of helplessness, he resorted to applying the brake and brought his car to a halt but the political thugs jumped out of their vehicles, banged his car, and threatened to kill him.He added that the lawmaker witnessed the unruly behaviour of his boys but did not curb them. Rather he shouted at him when he complained to him.
Mr Ibikunle stated that it was the traffic wardens at the junction that eventually cleared the road for them to go. However the case has been reported to the police at the nearby Sango Police station.
“I wouldn’t have taken the matter seriously but for the threat to my life and coupled with the fact that the lawmaker, Hon. Gabriel himself was there. And since we are in the electioneering period, I can’t take the threat lightly. I’m a journalist I have to cover campaigns and there is no way I won’t come across this lawmaker and his guys.“They have threatened to kill me, so I have to notify the appropriate authorities,” Ibikunle stated.
“I called the state PPRO, SP. Adewale Osifeso, who directed me to report at Sango Police Station. I also called the Speaker of the House, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, who didn’t pick up his calls.“I dropped a message for him but he hasn’t called back till now. So I called the Chairman of/the House Committee on Information, Honourable Kazeem Olayanju, and his Deputy, Honourable Adeola Bamidele. They both promised to look into the matter”, he added.
The journalists in the state have condemned the attack on their colleague, urging the Oyo NUJ, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, and other concerned authorities to take appropriate action on the incident which they described as a threat to the public order.
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