Following the protest of some aggrieved residents of Edo state at the palace of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II during the visit of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Edo state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have traded words over the incident.
Reacting to the incident, the All Progressives Congress through its vice chairman, media and publicity committee of its National Campaign Council, Patrick Obahiagbon at a press conference held at the office of the campaign organisation of its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu situated in Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki planned to arrest and detain former national chairman of the party Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The APC also alleged that Governor Obaseki planned to cripple the businesses of a billionaire entrepreneur, Capt. Hosa Okunbo, a native of Edo State, presumed to be backing Ize-Iyamu and to also arrest and detain other APC leaders, ahead of the September 19 election.
Reacting to the development, the PDP through its Chairman, Edo 2020 Campaign Council, Chief Dan Orbih who is also the national vice chairman of the party, South-south alleged that APC leaders sponsored the attempt to eliminate some governors of PDP and other leaders of the party that were in Benin on Saturday for the kick- off of Obaseki’s re-election campaign, which was marred by gunshots, leading to injury of 10 persons.
It was further alleged by the APC national campaign council that Obaseki was plotting to subvert the September 19 poll through attacks and illegal detainment of its party leaders and members.
According to the APC, Oshiomhole would be arrested and detained over trumped-up charges on the eve of the election.
It was added that Okunbo’s farm would be torched, in continuation of the assault on his reputation and businesses, for refusing to back the second term agenda of Obaseki.
The national campaign council of APC blamed Edo governor and the PDP for the violence that broke out on Saturday in Benin, which led to the hospitalization 3of several people for gunshot injuries.
It accused Obaseki of setting conscripted thugs and cultists on protesters who expressed their rejection of him and his invitation of ‘tax-collectors’, who were feasting on Edo’s treasury.
The national campaign council said: “Information reached us from sources in Obaseki’s government, who are disillusioned with Edo governor’s nefarious acts that Obaseki has plotted and perfected a criminally-appalling initiative, aimed at subverting the will of the people.
“On the back of conscripting renowned cultists and providing them official cover and funding for wanton violence, under the guise of aides’ appointments, Obaseki is planning to use COVID-19 as a ruse to neuter grassroots leaders of our party on the eve of the governorship election, by abducting and detaining them in isolation centres-this way, disenfranchising them and forestalling the political force they will deliver, in pursuant of APC’s victory.