The distribution of the palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidies by the government has reportedly generated uproar in Ondo State as one of the commissioners in the state, Dr Bunmi Osadahun, was severely beaten at the weekend.
According to reports, the state government rolled out the palliatives for the residents of Arigidi Akoko, in Akoko North West Local Government Area of the state, while the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Osadahun who is a native of the area, was attacked by some leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
A fight ensued when some leaders of the APC from Arigidi Akoko alleged that the exercise was secretly carried out by government officials and made efforts to sabotage the arrangements, alleging the Commissioner of sidelining him in the sharing of palliative.
The Commissioner, Osadahun, was seen in a video circulating on social media engaging in a heated argument with a man, who attacked the commissioner with a chair.
A source from the community explained that “the man, who is a ward Chairman of the party in Arigidi, in Akoko North West, Olumide Awolumate, was present during the distribution of palliatives in the council, but nobody knew what transpired between the two of them.
He said that the distribution of palliatives was carried out unfairly and unjustly, which many people have been complaining about while some residents boycotted the exercise.
He said, “The man was trying to smash the chair on the Commissioner’s head while Osadahun has been inflicted with wounds on her face and head.”
”Immediately this happened, some young boys loyal to the commissioner also descended on the attacker and dealt with him.”
However, another source disclosed that Awolumate had promised to humiliate the woman commissioner by excluding his name from the beneficiaries of the palliative of the Federal Government.
He said the Commissioner was injured with noticeable bruises on her face and body and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The man who allegedly beat the commissioner on the other hand had explained his version of the story in a video, he said: “I was assaulted in my house by the power-drunk Commissioner for Women Affairs with her son in the presence of a police officer.
“Today I was in my house relaxing when the Commissioner came with her son, one other boy, and a police officer.
“The police officer told me they needed my attention at the station in Oke Agbe, and before I could respond, the commissioner pounced on me, tore my clothes, and the Commissioner also joined in beating me.
“The Police officer is still here, and I have resisted arrest, and I don’t know why they had to descend on me to hand me such treatment.”
The female Commissioner was said to have reported the incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
However, all efforts to speak with Osadahun were abortive, but her daughter, Jumoke Bakare said that her mother has since been hospitalised after the attack.
