PHOTO: Gov’s aide stabbed as violence erupts at APC stakeholder’s meeting 

Violence erupted during a Delta Central All Progressives Congress, APC, stakeholders’ meeting in Uvwie Local Government Area on Sunday, leaving several people injured, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Mr. Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple.

The meeting was held at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Conference Centre and attended by prominent APC leaders including Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone; Executive Director of Business Development at NEXIM Bank, Stella Okotete; the Governor’s Senior Political Adviser, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo; ALGON Chairman, Isaiah Esiovwa; and Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Reuben Izeze.

MOUTHPIECE NGR gathered that the violence began when Temple allegedly confronted and attacked a young man over a previous disagreement.

Sources alleged Temple is a member of the Buccaneer confraternity, while the other individual belongs to the Axe confraternity. SaharaReporters could not independently verify the claims.

The confrontation reportedly escalated after other members of the Axe confraternity joined the fray. Eyewitnesses said Temple was chased with plastic chairs and bottles before being stabbed multiple times in the head, neck and back. He sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

However, other eyewitnesses attributed the violence to longstanding political differences between Commissioner Ize and Temple.

“What actually happened was that there had been growing political disagreements between Ize and Temple for some time. Both camps took advantage of the meeting to test their strength. It became a free-for-all fight,” an eyewitness said.  

“Plastic chairs, bottles, and other objects were freely used during the clash. Blood was gushing from several parts of Temple’s body before he was rushed out.”

Reacting, Commissioner Izeze denied involvement, insisting he was nowhere near the scene when the clash broke out.

“The fight has nothing to do with me. Temple actually started the fight. He used a chair to attack a young man. Unknown to Temple, the young man was a member of the Axe confraternity,” Izeze told SaharaReporters.

He claimed video footage showed Temple was over 300 metres away from where he was seated.

Izeze also alleged he was attacked and accused the Chairman of Uvwie LGA, Tony Ofoni, of orchestrating the assault.

In a letter to Ofoni, Ize alleged the chairman assaulted him and took his blue-strapped Guess wristwatch, ₦400,000 cash and prescription glasses.  

“He became intoxicated by power. He was allegedly shouting, ‘Kill him! Kill him!’” Izeze said, adding that he would pursue legal action.

Meanwhile, the Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria, GOMEP-NG, have condemned the incident and called for a thorough investigation.

“The Delta State Government and relevant security agencies must rise to the occasion by identifying, investigating, and prosecuting all those responsible in accordance with the law,” GOMEP-NG National President, Akpovoke Otiti, said.

He said that violence involving political appointees undermines public confidence in governance and threatens the peace of the state. 

Noting that Political leaders must embrace dialogue and uphold the rule of law, he added violence has no place in a democratic society.”