The leaders of the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State today, Friday, July 19, engaged in verbal war over yesterday’s attack on the reinstated Edo deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, and the APC’s governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, for the September 21 election.
The incident happened yesterday, Thursday, July 18, on Airport Road, Benin, the capital of Edo state, reports The Nation.
The Edo commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, who was present at Benin airport during the violent episode where political thugs opened fire, resulting in the tragic death of police Inspector Onuh Akoh from No. 45 Police Mobile Force in Abuja, attached to Okpebholo, pledged to arrest, name, shame, and prosecute those responsible for the cowardly act.
The Edo APC, represented by Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Director of Publicity of its Governorship Campaign Council, called for an investigation into the serious security breach that led to the attempted assassination of Okpebholo on Thursday, leaving him hospitalised in Benin due to gunshot wounds.
He said: “On July 18, 2024, our candidate for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, escaped an assassination attempt when he arrived at the Benin Airport to continue his campaigns. Sadly, the assassins succeeded in gruesomely taking the life of Police Inspector Onuh Akoh, one of his security details.
“Senator Okpebholo’s peaceful procession from Benin Airport to the APC’s state secretariat would have been conducted peacefully, without any problem, if the gunmen had not decided to ambush the candidate and his supporters at the Benin Airport exit.
“Let it be known that our candidate did not commit any crime by passing through the airport gate, after arriving from Abuja. Members of the APC, who received him on his arrival, never committed any crime.
“Those that committed the murder of Inspector Akoh and attempted to assassinate Senator Okpebholo are the hired criminals, who were identified by security agents present at the scene, as representatives of the opposition party.
“The unprovoked horrific act of political violence against a peaceful Nigerian Senator should have no place in Edo State. It should be unanimously and forcefully condemned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the good people of Edo State.”
After a careful reflection, the Edo APC’s chieftain also expressed regret over the killing of the serving police officer, who was murdered in cold blood, while carrying out his official assignment.
He said: “The party is appalled by the pains caused by injuries sustained by hundreds of our (APC’s) members during the unexpected attack. We are grateful that Senator Okpebholo appears to be fine, after the despicable attack on a peaceful motorcade.
“The attempted assassination of Senator Okpebholo represents a glaring failure by the police, which left a serving senator exposed to gunfire, in a breach of security that caused a fatality.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services (DSS), to probe the assassination attempt on Senator Okpebholo, bring the culprits to book, and rein in the state-sponsored criminals, who have brazenly made the political landscape of Edo State unsafe.
“Anything short of this, is capable of encouraging self-help in the state, especially as we enter the crucial campaign season.
“The vantage point the assassins, who were in a marked Sienna Bus opposite the exit gate of Benin Airport, managed to acquire, is the greatest security breach and failure, especially as the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, and other top police officers were at the airport to ensure peace.”
Omo-Ojo also declared that no amount of violent desperation would prevent the APC from providing leadership for the determined, concerted and patriotic forces, who he said were working to take back Edo and reset the state on the path of peace and prosperity from November 12 this year, when Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term would expire.
Meanwhile, the state chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, who addressed reporters at the state secretariat of the party on Airport Road, Benin, expressed shock over the wanton destruction of property and the death of the police officer, as a result of the violence, allegedly orchestrated by thugs of the APC, under the guise of enforcing Wednesday’s judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC) Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, which reinstated Shuaibu.
Aziegbemi, who was accompanied by the Director-General of the Asue Ighodalo governorship campaign management council, Matthew Iduoriyekewen, a former Majority Leader of Edo House of Assembly, and other PDP chieftains, stated that the state’s PDP was worried about the alleged desperation of the leaders of APC and the party’s governorship candidate (Okpebholo) to cause confusion and chaos in Edo since they were obviously not ready for the coming governorship election in the state.
He said: “The incident that happened yesterday (on Thursday) at the Benin Airport was unfortunate and unacceptable. It shows how desperate the APC handlers have become in their bid to foist their candidate on Edo people. It is quite disheartening and really saddening that an innocent police officer lost his life, due to the violence unleashed on innocent citizens by the APC, led by its governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“The PDP expresses deep sorrow over the death of the gallant officer. We commiserate with the family of the deceased and pray that our good Lord grants him eternal rest.
“It is common knowledge that when a court of first instance gives a judgment, once there is a notice of appeal and an appeal for a stay of execution, the parties are expected to maintain the status quo. We advise the impeached deputy governor of Edo State to allow the law to take its full course and stop instigating violence in Edo State. He should await the outcome of the judgments of the Appeal Court and ultimately the Supreme Court.
“The APC is advised to rein in their members, as no responsible government will fold its arms and watch hoodlums harass, maim and kill its citizens. I advise the APC to prepare for the governorship election, instead of engaging in unnecessary distractions.”
Edo chairman of PDP also stated that the state’s commissioner of police was on Thursday at Benin airport, where he showed Shaibu a copy of the notice of appeal and stay of execution of the judgment filed by the respondents.
He said: “We gave the police intelligence, that many of the cars waiting for the governorship candidate of the APC in Edo and Shaibu at Benin Airport, were stocked with guns and dangerous weapons. Why was the Edo police commissioner’s order flouted, and he (Adegboye) did not act to stop the violence thereafter?
“In all, human beings will always protect their self-interest. In whose interest is it to cause any mayhem in Edo, a few months to an election that the PDP is 100 per cent sure of winning? PDP cannot work against its interest. It is therefore opined that the APC, with its new convert, Shaibu, planned, executed (as always badly executed) plan to cause maximum fear in our people, before the election.”
Aziegbemi called on the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident, carry out an autopsy on the killed police officer, and make its findings public.
Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, while also addressing a news conference yesterday in his office at the state secretariat in Benin, claimed that the filing of a stay of execution in response to a court order or judgment meant that the status quo should be maintained by all parties, contrary to the landmark judgments of the Supreme Court on the sensitive matter.
Nehikhare, who was accompanied by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Pastor Crusoe Osagie, claimed that Shaibu remained impeached as Edo deputy governor until the appellate court decided otherwise.
He said: “The enforcement of a court judgment is neither carried out by the parties involved nor their hirelings but by law enforcement agents.
“In a blatant disregard for the stay of execution, as well as law and order, Shaibu mobilised thugs, armed with sophisticated weapons, within and outside Benin Airport compound, in a bid to make a show of his return to Benin, following the court judgment, unleashing mayhem on the people and stirring crisis in the state, in the guise of executing the court judgment.
“Edo Commissioner of Police, with the intelligence available to him, rushed to Benin Airport, approached Shaibu, and informed him of the filed stay of execution, which he had in his possession, warning the former deputy governor against marching to the Edo State Government House, which was Shaibu’s original plan.
“With the disappointment by this development, Shaibu disregarded the advice and warnings from Edo Commissioner of Police and exited the airport precincts, into the waiting crowd of thugs, who then moved with him into the city, shooting sporadically and unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens, who were minding their lawful businesses.
“The mindless shooting and breakdown of law and order resulted in the wanton destruction of property, infliction of various degrees of injuries on passers-by and security operatives, and the loss of the life of a policeman.”
Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, also described the incident as condemnable and unacceptable.
He said: “Edo State government condoles with the Nigerian Police Force and the family of the police officer, who tragically lost his life in the incident. It is quite disappointing, but not surprising, that the Edo Commissioner of Police, despite his intervention, could not rein in Shaibu and his thugs, leading to the unnecessary loss of life.
“We know that the game plan of Shaibu and his ilk was to cause as much destruction, mayhem, and chaos within the Benin metropolis, with the aim of creating a sense of unrest and crisis, so that they could cry and plead with the Federal Government as victims, expecting it to, in response, begin the arrest of members of the PDP in Edo State, including myself, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation.
“The federal government or federal might is the only campaign strategy Edo APC leaders boastfully articulate whenever they talk of the September 21, 2024 governorship election. This episode is just one of the scenes in their how-to-capture-Edo script.
“Edo State government is calling on the federal government and the IGP to immediately begin investigations to unravel the root cause of the breach of law and order in the state, as well as the death of the gallant police officer, whose duty it was to protect the APC’s governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and ensure that the culprits are prosecuted.
“Edo State Government will not sit idly and watch just one person or a group of persons bring down the roof on the entire state, on the back of his or their selfish motivations, and in gross violation of the laws of the land.”
Nehikhare also urged Edo residents to be assured that the Obaseki’s administration would spare no resource in ensuring the protection of their lives and property, as required by law.
