• Allegations cheap blackmail –Mafe
Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A member representing Remo North Constituency at the Ogun State House of Assembly, Adebiyi Adeleye, has raised the alarm over alleged threats on his life.
He accused a fellow lawmaker and Majority Leader of the House, Adeyinka Mafe.
Adeleye, who raised the alarm at a press briefing yesterday, in Isara, Remo North local government, said suspected hoodlums allegedly sponsored by Mafe, attacked him physically during the coronation ceremony of the Odemo of Isara, Oba Alebert Adebose Mayungbe, on May 24.
He said he was with his supporters at the venue of the ceremony, when some hoodlums, led by one Segun Agabi, started to hit them and eventually prevented them from sitting at the main arena of the ceremony.
He added that the hoodlums were boasted that they were sent by Mafe to attack and strip him naked, if he was sighted at the coronation.
Adeleye, said he had got the wind of the imminent attack on his person as he got calls from some elders in the town, warning him to steer clear of the event, to avoid being assaulted by thugs who allegedly have the state government’s backing.
The lawmaker, who traced the attack to his decision to dump the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), further alleged that the hoodlums later invaded his constituency office with guns and other dangerous weapons and shot sporadically to scare residents.
He said the hoodlums, who equally shattered his office with stones and bottles, did not meet him, but, manhandled his office assistant.
Adeleye, however, said the incident was reported at the Police Zonal Headquarters, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, and four persons arrested in connection with the incident.
While vowing that no amount of intimidation and attack will make him to rescind his decision to dump APC, Adeleye appealed to security agencies in the state to call Mafe to order.
In a swift reaction, Mafe said he was amazed at the allegations from a fellow lawmaker, describing it as a “cheap blackmail.”
He said though he was aware that there was an altercation between Adeleye, his supporters and youths of the town, he sat on the high table with other dignitaries throughout the event.
“I am amazed by the cheap blackmail from a colleague – if truly he said so. I did not attend the coronation with any thugs. I am aware that there was an altercation between him, his supporters and the youths of the town. But, I suspected its local politics or the fact that he was perceived as being opposed to the installation of the new monarch.
“I was seated on the high table with the Kabiyesi and other dignitaries throughout the occasion, but, he was seated in the crowd; so, I cannot say exactly what transpired. I left the venue for Sagamu after the presentation of staff of office and acceptance speech by Kabiyesi.
On Adeleye’s defection from APC to PDP, Mafe said: “I am not even aware that he has defected from APC because as the majority leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, the House records show he is still in APC.”