The state’s local government area of Akoko North-West has suspended Mr. Olumide Awolumate, the party’s ward chairman, for reportedly assaulting Mrs. Juliana Osadahun, the state’s commissioner for woman affairs and social development.
During the Sunday distribution of relief supplies for the removal of oil subsidies in Arigidi Akoko, the unhappy chairman could be seen on camera fighting with the commissioner and allegedly injuring him on the head.
The state chairman of the party, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, voiced his resentment at the alleged attack on the commissioner in a Monday interview with our correspondent about the incident and said that the party had met to discuss it.
He claimed that during a meeting of the party’s leadership where the incident was considered, it was agreed to suspend Awolumate from the organization.
Party indiscipline will not be tolerated, the chairman declared. I completely condemn such a deed, and after the party discussed it, the chairman of that ward was suspended. How does one defeat a woman? Please make it really clear and loud because I won’t allow it. Regardless of the offense committed by that honorable commissioner, the party has a duty to respect women.
You may check with all the local administrations to see that our party is known for its welfare policies; nowhere was the party involved in this. The man has now been punished.
In a statement, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the state command’s police public relations officer, added that Mr. Asabi Abiodun, the state’s commissioner of police, had denounced the assault and demanded an investigation.
The commissioner was attacked by an assailant named Awolumate Olumide while having a meeting with some of their party members in the Akoko region, according to preliminary investigation, the force PRO said. The commissioner was in the area to oversee the distribution of the aforementioned palliatives.
“The CP has directed that a full investigation be conducted and that the case be forwarded to the SCID (State Criminal Investigation Department), Akure for further investigation into what caused the assault,” the statement reads.
The alleged assault on the commissioner has also been denounced by Oluwatosin Ajirotutu, the deputy majority leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly. She demanded that the state police command detain the APC leader and bring charges against him.
