Don’t brand us political thugs –OPC boss

The Coordinator, Gani Adam’s faction of  the O’odua Peoples Congress in Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adedipe, has warned politicians in the state to desist from branding his members as political thugs.


Adedipe, who is popularly called Apase, gave the warning while addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Tuesday.

He described a situation where politicians accused his members of complicity in the political face-off between loyalists of Governor Kayode Fayemi and a House of Representatives’ member, Opeyemi Bamidele, as embarrassing.

The OPC faction in the state had been accused of engaging in violence during the recent clash between Fayemi’s loyalists and those of Bamidele on Saturday.

The OPC leader said, “It is unfortunate that the OPC, which fought relentless against military dictatorship and struggled for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, could be branded political hirelings.”

Adedipe said two persons, Sola Ojo and Ade Balogun, were arrested by the police for vandalising a patrol van belonging to the OPC during the fracas that occurred at a burial ceremony on Saturday.

He said, “I didn’t attack anybody neither did I curse any problem. I was invited to the burial ceremony by the Caretaker Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr. Femi Awe.

“We were not there to cause trouble. I only went there with two of  my aides. My driver, who was attacked and wounded, is now receiving treatment at the Ekiti State Police Command clinic. He sustained machete wound during the attack.

“I was not involved in any way. Our leader, Otunba Gani Adams, has made it clear that the main focus of OPC is promotion of culture across South-West states and not involvement in partisan politics.”