Why Governor Amosun Supporters Stoned President Buhari in Abeokuta

The campaign rally of President Muhammadu Buhari at Abeokuta, Ogun State ended abruptly on Monday as scores of hoodlums suspected to be supporters of the state Governor Ibikunle Amosun sponsored Allied Peoples' Movement (APM) hurled stones at leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including the president.
The hoodlum carrying the placards of a rival political party supported and funded by Amosun had earlier chased away the supporters of Dapo Abiodun the governorship candidate of the APC from the venue of the rally.
The President who arrived the stadium around 3 pm in company of the Vice – President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Segun Osoba, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Abiodun, hurriedly raised the hand of Abiodun shortly after he had addressed the rally briefly and was whisked out of the stadium immediately.

Trouble began when Oshiomhole took the microphone and announced that they were in the state for the presidential campaign and to also give Dapo Abiodun the emblem of the party as the governorship candidate, a pronouncement which the assembled hoodlums were waiting to commence another round of hurl stones and other objects at the APC leaders and dignitaries.
There was chaos and apprehension everywhere as people scampered for safety while the daring hoodlums held people in terror, and refused to be calmed when Governor Ibikunle Amosun, pleaded with them not to “disgrace” him.
Earlier before the arrival of Buhari and others scores of the hoodlums who had continued singing the slogan of a rival opposition governorship candidate and his party sacked supporters of the Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governorship candidate of APC, from the stadium.
Other APC members and supporters seated and awaiting the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari were also chased away as the thugs’ hurled stones, shoes and other dangerous weapons at them.
Many were injured in the sustained attacks, forcing thousands of people to leave the stadium while the President was yet to arrive.
The attacks began few minutes to 1:0’clock and peaked about 45 minutes later and within 10 minutes, all the seats and positions occupied by Dapo Abiodun supporters and others APC members were deserted as stones and objects hurled by the hoodlums, fell on them in torrents.
Some of the hoodlums were overheard brazenly boasting; ”this is Ogun and nobody can intimidate us” even as they kept throwing stones at the fleeing APC members and supporters of Abiodun.
It was a pathetic sight watching elderly men and women supporters labouring to scale the stadium fence in desperate bids to escape the multi – pronged attacks, many alleged was sponsored by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Outside the stadium, gunshots rang out repeatedly, as dozens of armed soldiers and other security agencies battled to prevent the entry of another batch of hoodlums, who were allegedly hurried to the venue to reinforce their colleagues who had seized the main bowl of the main stadium.
Many were appalled that the Fuji musician called to entertain at the occasion, prodded the hoodlums on with inciting lyrics while security agents within the stadium and who ought to ensure orderliness at the venue, acted as though they were on holiday.
There was palpable concern over the safety of the APC chieftains such as Senator Gbenga Kaka, Abiodun’s running mate, Noimot Oyedele – Salako, Chief Tolu Odebiyi and others, with many wondering if they were able to leave the stadium unscathed.
Meanwhile, Nigerians on Twitter have condemned the role played by Ogun State governor, Amosun, in the violence that broke out at the presidential campaign rally of the APC in Abeokuta on Monday,
Since the news broke, Twitter users have been reacting to the drama as well as the governor’s role in it, calling for a drastic discipline against the state governor.