A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, on Tuesday escaped death after one of the policemen escorting a bullion van opened fire on his vehicle while travelling to Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened at Ile-Oluji Junction. Falae was travelling to Ile-Ife for Afenifere leaders’ visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Sources at Ife palace told our correspondent that the former Minister of Finance, who is the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, briefed some persons at Ile-Ife about the incident before the meeting with the Ooni.
Falae was quoted to have said, “I was coming from Akure, approaching Ilesa. I saw some vehicles ahead of me. There was a bullion van in front, the vehicles ahead of us were overtaking the bullion van and we followed too.
“We just barely passed them when I heard a shot and I heard a bang on the car. We stopped and we discovered that they had shot at our car.
“They didn’t stop. We stopped at Erin-Ijesa and complained to the police at the checkpoint that one of the policemen escorting a bullion van fired at us at Ile-Oluji Juction.”
Efforts to speak directly to Falae were unsuccessful as calls put to his telephone did not connect.
However, a leader of the Afenifere in Osun State, Mr. Niyi Owolade, confirmed the shooting to our correspondent on the telephone.
Owolade said he spoke to Falae directly and he told him that a policeman attached to a bullion van shot at his car while coming to Ile-Ife.
He said, “I have just spoken to him and he confirmed it. He said his car was shot at by a bullion van escort.
“Chief said he would take it up because such a thing should not be allowed.”
The personal assistant to Falae, Capt, Moshood Raji, also confirmed the incident to one of our correspondents on the telephone.
He said, “Yes, it is true they shot at the car between Ikeji-Arakeji and Ipetu in Osun State.
“There were three vehicles and Chief Falae’s SUV drove past the pilot, one of the policemen fired at the SUV. Nobody was injured and Chief Falae and everybody is fine.”
He added that Falae would report the matter to the police authorities after returning to Akure.
Falae was recently abducted by some hoodlums on his farm in Akure and he was released after he had paid some amount of money as ransom to his captors.
Meanwhile, Oba Ogunwusi has urged Afenifere to make Yoruba’s progress their priority.
The Ooni stated this during a courtesy visit of the group to his palace.
The monarch, who has been touring Yorubaland with his message of peace and unity, expressed his dissatisfaction with the disunity among Yoruba.
Ogunwusi said, “Despite how powerful and influential we are in Yorubaland, we have allowed politicians to cause disunity among us.
“I am happy to meet you today and I want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to leave politics and love each other for the sake of progress of Yorubaland.
“I want you to go and meet those that offended you and settle the dispute. I am very sure that Yorubaland will progress if we can love one another.”
The Afenifere Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, assured the monarch of the group’s readiness to support any course that could promote unity in Yorubaland.
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