Idris Ahmed, Benin.
Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused the Edo State Government, led by the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, of hatching a plot to illegally detain Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the party who has joined the campaign for its candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, over trumped-up charges and a politically-motivated probe on the eve of the September 19 Governorship election.
It also alleged that the Governor, acting through conscripted thugs and cultists, is finalizing plans to set fire on the farm and businesses of billionaire businessmen, Captain Hosa Okunbo, in the State in a bid to coerce him into backing the PDP.
Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, the Vice-Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, of the APC National Campaign Council, made these allegations in a Sunday press conference in Benin City.
He said: “Mr. Godwin Obaseki is also planning to continue his persecution of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with trumped-up and inconsequential charges at the eleventh hour of electoral politics.
Obaseki’s simple plan is to arraign Oshiomhole for a probe that has been revealed as nothing but a targeted political witch-hunt and then deny him bail on eve of election to paralyze the APC.”
“We have also been reliably apprised of the fact that a top security aid of the governor has been frenziedly coordinating different meetings with thugs, cultists, and other agents of state like the discredited politically Wabazigan, a pseudo state police which he has weaponized as a tool of oppression, to devise various demonic plans to ransack the homes of our party members and leaders with the view of destroying their properties and planting incriminating items that would serve as a basis for unjust harassment and illegal detainment.”
“These people, emboldened and funded by our state resources, are also plotting to set fire on the farm of Captain Hosa Okunbo because the Governor believes he is entitled to his support and will see to the destruction of his businesses and reputation if we won’t offer this support.”
Hon. Obahiagbon said the Governor was responsible for the violent attacks in Benin City on Saturday, alleging that he set the thugs on protesters who expressed their rejection of him and his party, the PDP.
He condemned the acts as a show of “desperadoism” and a direct affront on the constitution and rule of law, while appealing to the Police, INEC, and other stakeholders to prevail on the Governor to allow for peaceful conduct of the election.
