LP Supporters attacked in Ibadan for pasting Akala/Alli posters

Some members of the Labour Party in Oyo state were on Sunday morning attacked by suspected security aides of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.

The party told newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday that the member, including  including three aides  of Sharafa Alli, the running mate to former Governor Adeb‎ayo Alao-Akala were attacked the challenge area of Ibadan.

Among the victims, who are presently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ibadan were Sulaimon Ajeja, Adeoye Ajani and‎ Adebimpe Suraju‎.

Narrating the incident to newsmen, Ajeja said that it happened around 12.30am on Sunday at Iyalode Efunsetan round –about, Challenge junction and was carried out by policemen attached to the governor.

He said that they were challenged at the scene when pasting the posters of ‎ the LP governorship aspirant, Adebayo Alao- Akala and his running mate by some hoodlums, who allighted  from two loaded buses

The victim said that shortly after the hoodlums left came three vehicles belonging to Ajimobi's convoy pool over and started assaulting us without any reason

``Th governor’s security aides were in a jeep and they packed immediately they sighted us. They allighted and beat us blue black, using various weapons on us.

``As if it was not enough, they took us to Oluyole residence the governor where further beating took place and later dumped us at the Oluyole police station.

``It baffled me that at the governor’s residence, some women asked to urinate in our mouth as they forcibly asked us to open our mouths,’’ he said.

Ajeja said that the officers at the Oluyole police station were urbane set of people as they pitied us and directed that we be taken to hospital to get medical help and save our lives

Meanwhile, Dr Kola Balogun, the Director-General of the Akala/Alli Campaign Organization condemned the attack and call on the security agencies in the state to take necessary action.

``This attack is coming again shortly after the governor has ordered that his boys should violently deal with anybody they considered as threat during the February election.

``No just a while ago the hoodlums believed to be loyalists of the APC went to monatan  market to attack the people for hailing and receiving the former governor,’’ he said.

He called on the governor to call his boys to order, likewise stop making inflammatory statement that is capable of disrupting the peace of the state the same way he did during the 2011 election.

Similarly, Prince Niran Adeyoju, the Coordinator of Team Akala, a suppprt group for Alao-Akala’s re-election urged the governor to be conscious of the implication of promoting violence through inflammatory statements.

``It is the trade-in-stock of the APC to use violence to intimidate and oppress members of the opposition parties so as to prevent them from performing their civic duties or openly support whoever they wanted,’’ he said.

He however commended the security operatives in the state for maintaining law and order and at the same time appeal to them not to relent in their effort at ensuring peace reign during and after the February election

We'll Declare State of Emergency On Healthcare In Oyo- Folarin

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Oyo State, Sen. Teslim Kolawole Folarin, has promised to reverse the rot and dwindling fortune of healthcare delivery by declaring a total state of emergency in the state, if given the mandate in next month's election.

Folarin, who noted that the state in the past used to be the flagship of healthcare delivery in the country, lamented that overtime, the glory has faded and the sector has grounded to a halt under the Ajimobi clueless government.

In a statement by his Director of Media & Strategy, Victor Oluwadamilare, the PDP standard bearer promised to robustly address the myriads of problems and hiccups facing the health sector in the state.

According to Folarin, the major challenges include shortage of trained medical personnel, infrastructural deficiency, shortage of equipment and medication and using political officials who have no cognate experience to manage healthcare system, with its attendant backlash.

"Oyo state has 182 doctors to cater for a population of nearly seven million citizens, (one doctors to about 39,000 citizens), 18 consultants, one radiographer, 35 dentists (one dentists to about 200,000 citizens), 1,850 nurses, 47 pharmacists, 72 laboratory scientists  and one psychiatrist", Folarin observed, adding "it has no radiologists, ophthalmologist or plastic surgeon.Routine internship which could have strengthened the workforce is no longer available because the state has lost its accreditation".

"It is heart-breaking that there are only 48 hospitals, primary healthcare clinics inclusive, in the state", Folarin lamented, saying that the sordid situation at  Adeoyo State  Hospital, Ring-Road, Ibadan that has become a game reserve and a den of robbers typifies what many government hospitals in the state symbolises under Ajimobi.

To reverse the existing rot, Folarin promised to engage in substantive recruitment of medical practitioners to fill vacant positions and revise remuneration and benefits to competitive levels, adding "we shall encourage and support Nigerians in diaspora, who have specialist  healthcare skills, to return and assist with rebuilding the state healthcare services".

"We shall exercise zero tolerance against unlicensed and unqualified medical practitioners and pharmacists, while at least one fully equipped dental hospital in each zone of the state and work with the LGA in creating  at least one dental clinic per local government, Folarin added.