The National Public Relations Officer of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, (New Era) Adeshina Akinpelu escaped assassination attempt on his life after attending a Yoruba Summit program held at Adamasingba stadium, Ibadan. The OPC chieftain was attacked shortly after he left the venue of the program organised by prominent Yoruba leaders and also had in attendance the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and some other elected public office holders.
While speaking to journalists at the Police hospital at Eleyele, Akinpelu stated that he was attacked shortly after he left Adamasingba by men numbering about 20 and led by one Sunday Lateef Babalola and one Tope Terror.
“Immediately I left Adamasingba venue of the program hosted by some Yoruba leaders-Kunle Olajide,Tokunbo Ajasin,Yinka Odumakin, Deji Osinbogun as well as others. I was attacked by men numbering about 20 and were led by Sunday Lateef Babalola and Tope Terror. As I exited the gate of Adamasingba in company of six of our members; Sunday Lateef Babalola and Tope Terror shot at me. As I try to escape, they pursued me and held me down. I was clubbed and inflicted with machete cuts. As they were trying to strangle me, some policemen who must have heard the gunshots came to rescue me and they brought me here.”
While being asked on what could have prompted the attack, Akinpelu accused Gani Adams of being the one who gave the order for him to be assassinated.
“Gani Adams has finally made good his threat on my life. Several attempts were made in the past but God saved me. Today’s attempt is the climax and I want to tell the whole world and all security agencies that the man behind the assassination attempt on my life today is Gani Adams. He is the one that instructed Sunday Lateef Babalola, Tope Terror and other guys who I can all identify to kill me.”
Also speaking on the assassination attempt on the OPC National PRO, the National President of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, (New Era) Razak Arogundade condemned the attack.
Corroborating Akinpelu’s story, Arogundade accused Otunba Gani Adams of being the brain behind the attack.
“Yes I believe that Gani Adams is the man that gave the directive that Akinpelu should be assassinated. His killer squad led by Sunday Lateef Babalola nearly succeeded in killing Akinpelu but God saved our National PRO.
Arogundade who also condemned the organisers of the program as being very biased stating that the way and manner the program went showed that it was never in the best interest of Yoruba people.
“It is very sad that the program we thought would be in the best interest of Yoruba people turned out to be a jamboree aimed at deceiving the Yoruba people about restructuring.”
“We could have responded to the attack but because we have the interest of Yoruba at heart; we didn’t. That is why we are using this medium to call on all security agencies in Oyo state to investigate this assassination attempt on our member and also bring to book all those involved and their masterminds.”
