By Dotun Akintomide
Osun state Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Funke Egbemode has described the attack on Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Saturday by #EndSARS protesters as an assassination attempt.
Oyetola had joined protesters on Saturday, in Osogbo, promising the protesters that their demands would be looked into, and that he supported their peaceful protest.
However, while still addressing the youths, some of the the protesters started hurling stones at the Governor’s car. The governor was speedily ferried away from the scene as attackers damage vehicles in his convoy.
In a statement, Egbemode said: “It was an assassination attempt. This was certainly beyond the #EndSARS protest. The people who launched the attack were not protesters at all.
“Protests have been going on in the state for some days now, and there had been no attack on any government official since the beginning of the protest.
“However, today’s attack changed the narrative. It was not a spontaneous attempt. The attackers had it all planned. They had guns and other weapons. In fact, it was a woman who smashed the windscreen of the vehicle of the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji where I was.
“It is really sad that these people infiltrated the ranks of the peaceful protesters and took advantage of the Governor’s walk with the youths to execute their sinister intentions.
“It was simply a street coup to take out the Governor, his Deputy and the Secretary to the State Government, all of whom were exposed during the protest and had to be smuggled into vehicles when the attack was launched,” the Commissioner said
Narrating how the incident occurred, Egbemode said: “Armed with guns, cutlasses, the hoodlums swooped on the Governor at Olaiya junction, while he was addressing the #EndSARS protesters at the state capital.
“Governor Oyetola had joined protesters in the walk from Alekuwodo area to Olaiya junction, singing with them and promising them that their demands will be looked into, and that he supported how their peaceful agitations which is a part of democratic process.
“However, while still addressing the youths, the armed men and women started shooting, hurled stones at the Governor’s car.”
