Oyo lawmaker murdered few days to his PhD convocation

From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

CHAIRMAN, Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Infor­mation, Public Relations and Secu­rity, Mr. Gideon Aremu, represent­ing Oorelope state constituency of Iseyin Itesiwaju Local Govern­ment on the platform of Labour Party (LP), has been assassinated by gunmen.

Sunday Sun gathered that Are­mu was to bag a doctorate degree in Statistics from the University of Ilorin next week. He was said to have collected graduation gown for the convocation and had even invited his fellow legislators and friends to Ilorin, Kwara State for the celebration of his academic achievement.

Available information revealed that he was shot dead by two gunmen, who trailed him on a motorcycle, to the entrance of his residence at Alakia, Ibadan, about 9p.m on Friday.

Wife of the deceased lawmaker was said to be opening the gate of the house for him to drive in when the assassins alighted from the motorcycle and shot him several times.

The gunmen ensured that he gave up the ghost before they hopped on the motorcycle again and left. His cellphone was taken away by the assassins.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Oyo State com­mand, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the incident, and said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, had ordered thorough investigation into the incident.

“It is a case of suspected mur­der. The Commissioner of Police has ordered thorough investiga­tion into the matter. He has also deployed enough human and material resources to carry out an intensive manhunt for the cul­prits. We assure the public that very soon the hoodlums respon­sible for this dastardly act will be arrested. Members of the public, who have useful information that could help in investigation are encouraged to avail the police of such information immediately,” Ajisebutu said.

Reacting to the news, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Musah Abdul-Wasi, described the incident as a rude shock and a great loss to the entire state and the country.

He said: “It is regrettable he is not going to see that future, he was supposed to be conferred with PhD by the University of Ilorin next week. He had collected his gown and invited his colleagues and friends to the graduation. It is very sad.”

Meanwhile, the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described the murder of Aremu as most shocking and disturbing. It called for thorough investigation into the matter by the relevant security agencies with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

The party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, said the APC condemned the brutal killing of the lawmaker, who he de­scribed as an energetic, diligent and easy-going politician, whose death had opened another sad chapter in the history of the Pacesetter State.

“We received the news of the killing of Hon. Gideon Aremu with utter disbelief and rude shock in view of the fact that such nasty development had become history in the state since 2011 when the current administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi took the mantle of leadership of Oyo State.

“With renewed vision and prag­matic approach to governance by the present administration which manifested in improved security of lives and properties in the state as against the lawlessness, brigand­age and political violence of the recent past, one would be taken aback about this particular devel­opment especially as preliminary reports indicated that it was a pure case of assassination.

“We, therefore, express our re­gret over the incident as much as we condole with the state govern­ment, the leadership and members of the Oyo State House of As­sembly as well as all the people of Oorelope State Constituency and the good people of the state. We pray God to grant Hon. Aremu eternal rest and give both his im­mediate and political family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Also, the state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, expressed rude shock and consternation over the suspected assassination.

Special Adviser on Communi­cation and Strategy to Governor Ajimobi, Mr. Yomi Layinka, dis­closed this in a statement he issued after the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adey­emo, led other members of the house on a condolence visit to the governor yesterday.

According Layinka, as soon as news of the sad event got to the knowledge of the governor on Fri­day night, Ajimobi immediately got into contact with heads of all rel­evant security agencies including the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Army to ensure that any and every one connected with the dastardly act is promptly appre­hended and made to face the full weight of the law.

“The security chiefs have conse­quently thrown their dragnets wide open to immediately investigate, ar­rest and prosecute all the antisocial elements who connived to snuff out the promising life of such a com­patriot and public officer,” Layinka stated in a statement.

Ajimobi also commiserated with the wife, children and family of the deceased lawmaker, who was a ranking member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, assuring that justice would not only be seen to be done but will be done swiftly and thoroughly to ensure the repose of the soul of the good and committed patriot.

He, however, reiterated his gov­ernment’s commitment to sustaining the hard-won peace and security that the people of Oyo State currently en­joy, warning anyone or group not to test his resolve in this direction.

“As chief security officer of the state, the governor has indicated his personal interest in getting to the bot­tom of the issue as well as in ensur­ing appropriate sanctions for both the plotters and executors of the sus­pected murder, no matter how highly placed,” Layinka disclosed.