I’m innocent, they framed me up, says Awolumate
Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the Ward 1 Chairman of the party in Akoko North-West Council, Olumide Awolumate, for allegedly assaulting the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Olubunmi Osadahun.
The embattled ward chairman was suspended indefinitely by the party in Akoko North-West, after which the decision was communicated to the state Chairman, Ade Adetimehin.
Disclosing this in a statement issued by the state publicity secretary of the party, Alex Kalejaye, the party stated that the action of the local chapter of the party was in line with the directive of the state secretariat after the show of shame at the weekend.
The ward chairman, popularly known as ‘Cuba’, was seen in a video that has gone viral in a brawl with the commissioner. He allegedly inflicted injuries on Osadahun’s head after hitting her with a chair during distribution of palliatives in Arigidi Akoko at the weekend.
According to Kalejaye, the suspended ward executive member engaged in violent, deplorable, and lamentable conduct that has dragged the state government and the party’s image into serious disrepute.
The statement reads: “In furtherance of the above, the leadership of the party in Akoko North West deems it fit to officially inform the State Secretariat that Awolumate Olumide is hereby suspended indefinitely from the party in Akoko North West of our great party.”
“Adetimehin, on receipt of the suspension letter, assured the state secretariat that a disciplinary committee will be set up to ensure that the suspended Awolumate is appropriately punished and to serve as a deterrent to other leaders and members of the party.
BUT Awolumate, who explained the reasons for engaging in the brawl with the commissioner, stated that Osadahun was the one who invaded his home with her son, a police officer, and another young man to arrest him, while he never resisted arrest.
Awolumate, however, said the confrontation resulted in a fracas that lasted for some minutes with the commissioner and her son, who accompanied her in beating him, and he had to defend himself in the process.
He said: “What happened is that we had a meeting at the council level at the house of a leader, Pa Akeju, and we talked about the party, in which the commissioner for women affairs talked about the palliatives that were distributed some time ago.
“The commissioner said the palliatives had been given to different sectors and I raised my hand as the ward chairman of the party to say that the ten bags that were supposed to be in my custody did not get to me. I noted that some groups had been given, which include PDP, artisans, and groups, and said ours should be sent to me.”
“I raised this in the presence of all the leaders of the party, and the Commissioner objected to this, saying she was the head of that committee at the state level, but I objected to my non-inclusion in the sharing of the palliatives, as I was not invited.”
He said it led to an argument and he prevailed upon to leave the meeting and he left.
“I was at home with my family playing Ludo when I saw the commissioner accompanied by her son and the police officer. Her son pounced on me from behind and started hitting me, but I cannot sit and fold my arms to allow him to hit me in the presence of my own wife, children, and friends. I stood up and fought him back. As I was fighting him, the commissioner joined her son and fought me also.
“She started beating and tearing my clothes in the process; she carried a chair and threw it at me, and in retaliation, I took the chair and threw it back at her.
“To my surprise, I started seeing a video circulating; anybody that studied the video would see it has been doctored and edited; it was so short; it was planned work; they knew what they were coming to do in my house; they have arranged for somebody to video the scene; I never expected something like this.”
