• ‘He is a drowning man’ – PDP fires back
• ‘Not less than 30 suspects have been arrested’ – Police

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has pointed the finger at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following riots which broke out in Sagamu Local Government Area of the State in the early hours of Monday.

While reacting to the protest during which banks and the Sagamu local government secretariat were attacked, Governor Abiodun blamed 'disgruntled members of the PDP' for the attacks, alleging that members of the party were seen leading the protest.

Abiodun, in a statement released by Kunle Somorin, his Chief Press Secretary, said while the protest was purportedly against the scarcity of naira notes, the real intention became obvious with the involvement of the known PDP members.

The Governor premised his assertion on the fact that he toured the local government on Sunday while on campaign tour of the local government, without any violence or disagreement.

According to him, the success of the APC rally of yesterday got the 'feeble opposition PDP' frustrated and therefore made their members to embark on the mindless destruction of properties.

The statement read, "Early this morning, a politically motivated violent protest took place in Sagamu during which innocent people, banks and public infrastructures were attacked by some disgruntled members of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose members and some of the party’s candidates were seen leading the demonstration.

"It is on record that the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which moved through Simawa to Ogijo and back to Sagamu, where two road were commissioned yesterday, ended without any hitch.

- Sagamu Local government secretariat

"The APC rally was attended by tens of thousands of people at different locations, lasting from about 8.00 am in the morning and 8.00pm in the evening without any violence, quarrel or disagreements whatsoever.

"We believe strongly that it was the success of the APC rally of yesterday that got the feeble opposition PDP frustrated and therefore made their members to embark on the mindless destruction of properties."

But in a swift reaction, the Publicity Secretary of the State chapter of PDP, Akinloye Bankole, denied the involvement of the party in the protest, describing the Governor as a drowning man.

Bankole said, described the protest as a "clear indication" that Nigerians are tired of the APC government.

He said, "Dapo Abiodun is a drowning man that is readily looking for any available straw to hang on to, possibly for him to be rescued.

"We are not involved in such violent reaction, we have educated our people and we have encouraged them to make sure they reinvest that anger, that popular anger against APC and its government, they should reinvest it on the election day, take it to the polling booth and deal with them, vote them out on Saturday, that is what the PDP is preaching.

"We are not involved in anything violent and we are not known for violent. We know the APC by their antecedents, they are very violent, they are very vindictive and they are very deceptive and that is what is exactly working against them, not only in Sagamu, bit other parts of the state as we have seen in the last few days."

Riot, occasioned by the scarcity of the redesigned new Naira notes, broke in the early hours of Monday at the frontage of the Akarigbo Palace, before it spread across major parts of the town, including the local government Secretariat.

The rioters, mainly youth, it was gathered, became angry following the refusal of the Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, of banks and the popular bank road at Ijoku area of Sagamu, to dispense cash to the customers.

Some of the aggrieved youths alleged that the ATMs have stopped dispensing cash since last week, when President Muhammadu Buhari ordered them to recirculate the old N200 notes.

The protesters barricaded the Sagamu-Benin expressway and others, preventing human and vehicular movements through bonfire.

The commercial banks at the Ijoku area were not spared during the protest as three of the banks; Union, Fidelity and Access, were attacked by the angry protesters.

While both Union and Fidelity were set ablaze, Access Bank was seriously damaged by the angry youth.

A youth leader in the town, Kayode Segun-Okeowo, described the act as a "motivated destruction and not a protest."

"This is not a protest. I'm a comrade and understand the ABC of protest. It's motivated to cause destruction, those behind this must stop," he told journalists on phone.

The rioters thereafter proceeded to the Sagamu Local Government Secretariat, which was attacked before carting away the mace of the council's legislative house.

The Council Chairman, Afolabi Odulate, confirmed the development to journalists on the telephone interview, assuring that no member of staff was attacked as they had been relocated before the attackers came calling.

"Yes, they did invade the secretariat. No one was attacked. We had moved workers away before they arrived here. They stole the mace. Yes, they did," Odulate said.

While contacted, the Ogun State Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that ‘not less than 30 suspects have been arrested so far’ in connection with the riot.

Oyeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, however assured that the situation has been brought under control.

"The riots have been brought under control in the greater parts of Sagamu., including the Sagamu- Ijebu Ode Express Road.

"Currently, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Ogun State, CP Frank Mba, is personally leading a combined team of policemen and soldiers to tackle the rioters on Bank Road in the centre of Sagamu.

“Complete normalcy has been restored in Shagamu, not less than 30 suspects have been arrested so far and they have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments on the order of the Commissioner of Police CP Frank Mba.

“Combine team of Policemen and military men are on ground to monitor the situation,” Oyeyemi said.

Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun has appealed for calm saying attack on innocent people and destruction of public properties cannot solve the current problem.

While appealing for calm, Abiodun said, "Attacks on innocent people and destruction of private and public properties cannot solve the current problem but will rather worsen the situation.

"Therefore, we must not allow desperate politicians to mislead members of the public and use them as cannon to vent frustration.

"Our people should exercise patience and be law abiding, while waiting to cast their votes to the party that has stood by the populace even at this critical period."