A driver attached to the convoy of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State, Mr. Rahman Ishola, was killed in a stampede at the Ogbomoso residence of the governor on Thursday evening.

The death of the driver took place inside the compound of Governor Alao-Akala in Ogbomoso in the presence of hundreds of people who thronged the place to grab some money being dashed out to them by the governor.

It was gathered that many, in the process of struggling for the money, sustained injuries.

According to a source, the governor’s house was turned into a “mecca” with hundreds of people coming into the town to have a share of the governor’s generosity each time he (Alao-Akala) visited home.

The source added that the stampede that led to the death of Ishola was the second to occur at the entrance of the Ogbomoso residence of Governor Alao-Akala in less than two weeks.

All efforts by the medical personnel to revive the driver failed both at the governor’s residence and the hospital where he was said to have been taken for medical attention.

Last week Friday, a day before the National Assembly election, a fence in the governor’s residence in Ogbomoso was pulled down by a crowd in a struggle for money being given by the governor.

The late driver, according to eyewitnesses, was standing at the main gate when the gateman suddenly opened the gate, to give way to some people waiting to enter as some naira notes were thrown to the hangers-on resulting in a stampede.

Scores of hangers- on and political touts, were often seen at the main entrance to the residence of the governor, waiting to receive part of the money usually given out by the governor.

When contacted on Friday, Special Adviser to Governor Alao-Akala on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade, confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

In a text message, he said, “a driver attached to the convoy of Oyo State governor died last night in a traffic accident in Ogbomoso. Rahman Ishola has since been buried according to Islamic rites and the governor has consoled his family.”

The governor’s aide did not, however, say whether it was vehicular or human traffic.



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