‘Juju’ power display at Ondo APC secretariat

The crisis besetting the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress worsened on Monday as juju was placed at the entrance of the party’s secretariat along the Oyemekun Road in Akure.

The juju discouraged people from entering the complex.

Workers at the secretariat, who arrived as early as 8am, were shocked to see palm fronds and charms on the locked gates of the secretariat.

Palm fronds and charms were also seen on the fence of the secretariat.

This situation sent panic into the workers and people in the area.

Traditionally, the placing of palm fronds and charms at the entrance of a building means that nobody should enter the building. Anyone that enters into such a building does so at great risk to their lives.

It was gathered that immediately the workers saw the charms, they raised the alarm and informed the party’s leaders.

Some of the party’s leaders informed were not around but those that were around could not do anything about it.

It was also gathered that the development was not unconnected with the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party in recent time.

The crisis resulted in two-thirds of the members of State Executive Committee of the party sacking the state chairman, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, from office.

The discovery of the charms was later reported at a police station in Akure, after which some officers and men of the Ondo State Police Command were deployed in the scene.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, said men of the state command found the fetish items at the APC secretariat but they did not see those that put the items there.

“We have not arrested anybody over the incident but we have started our investigation in the matter,” he said.

Speaking, the state Director of Publicity of the party, Mr. Steve Otaloro, said the members of the party were surprised to see the charms at the gate, describing the incident as unfortunate.

He said, “We have yet to know the person that placed the items at our gate. This is unfortunate. I know that it could not be our members because the crises in the party are almost resolved. So, no member could do such a thing when we are already solving our crises. It may be the handiwork of the opposition.”

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, said the fetish objects were allegedly placed in the front of the secretariat to prevent the members of the state executive council, led by a factional chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, from gaining access into the building.

He said, “It is those that don’t want us to enter into the secretariat that put the fetish items at the gate of the secretariat because the chairman has been sacked, and they don’t want the remaining executive members to enter.”

However, some spiritualists were invited to the scene to pray and remove the items from the gate.

Meanwhile, the Deji of Akure kingdom, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, on Monday, condemned the sealing off of the APC secretariat by some unknown people, describing the act as sacrilegious.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Michael Adeyeye, the traditional ruler said traditionally sealing off of premises remained the prerogative of the palace.

The Deji said, “It is certain that those who carried out this condemnable act are not aware of the cultural and traditional implications of this action. The palace is apolitical and, therefore, should not be dragged into the internal wrangling of any party.”

The monarch said the palace had sent its emissaries to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter, adding that “we are confident that the culprits will be apprehended in no distant time.”

– PUNCH

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