The Special Assistant on Media to Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (M.O.B.), Ahmed Salami has said there was no truth in story making the round that his principal had been in coma since Friday evening when he was hit by bullets at the rally organized for Dr Kayode Fayemi, by the party.
It will be recalled that Bamidele and six others were hit by bullets and sustained various degrees of injuries through gunshots fired by a policeman drafted to maintain orderliness in the rally attended by party supporters.
A statement issued by his media aide and made available to the media in Ado Ekiti on Saturday said Bamidele was not in coma.
“We appreciate his supporters and APC members across the state,
“The way he fell in the full glare of the crowd and party supporters fueled the insinuation that he is still in coma.
“Let me assure our supporters in Ekiti and other concerned Nigerians that Bamidele not in coma. He has regained consciousness and fast recuperating due to prompt and intensive medical treatments he received thereafter.
“Its true that Bamidele has passed through major surgeries and the bullets have been removed from his abdominal region and leg. We implore our supporters to be calm and be law abiding whilst the situation is under control.
“We appreciate our people for the outpouring of affections since the incident occurred and this underscored the strong bond of unity among the APC members and Ekiti people in general.
“We want to say that the shooting was very unfortunate and unwarranted in view of the decorous and peaceful ways our people comported themselves from Akure, Ondo State capital via Ikere and to Ado Ekiti.
“We charge the police authorities to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the shooting and bring whoever that was complicit to justice for a country that has respect for the sanctity of human lives to be attainable,”
“We specially appreciate the governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his wife Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Ayo Arise and other party bigwigs for the quick responses in saving Bamidele’s life and that of other victims,” Salami said.
A source told newsmen that the errant mobile police officer was not a fake as it is being speculated by some APC members, saying “he is attached to MOPOL 20 in Lagos.
According to the source, “he had come to Ado Ekiti on illegal duty, he came with a politician to the rally.”
The source added that the policeman, who was injured following severe beatings he received, is receiving treatment at a secure hospital, while the politician who enlisted his service has also been arrested.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi Albert Asemola, the Ekiti police public relations officer (PPRO) has said that a politician masterminded the shooting.
Asemola said the politician, who “has also been arrested,” conspired with the policeman to carry out the act.
The policeman, he said, was posted to a bank in Lagos but travelled to Ekiti for an “illeegal duty”.
“At about 17:00 hours, a policeman who accidentally shot Opeyemi Bamidele and one other has been arrested. The policeman is in our custody now,”
“He is attached to 20 police mobile force (PMF) in Ikeja Lagos. He left where he was posted on bank guard duty somewhere in Ikeja for illegal duty in Ekiti state.
“A politician conspired with the policeman and removed him from where he was posted in Lagos and both came to Ekiti for unofficial reasons. The politician has also been arrested.
“The victims of the accidental discharge are currently responding to treatment at the hospital, and also the policeman who was mobbed is also responding to treatment in our protective custody.”
The police spokesman, however, said he can’t disclose the identity of the politician as investigations are still ongoing. (ThePolitico)
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