By Francis Ogbuagu
A total number of sixteen members of the People DemocraticParty(PDP) in Akoko- Edo LGA of Edo State were among those who sustained gun shots wounds last week in a clash between PDP and APC supporter.
The immediate past Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly,Rt Hon Kabiru Adjoto made this revelation, Monday in press briefing organized by leaders of PDP in Akoko-Edo at the NUJ Press Centre,Benin City,the Edo State capital.
According to Adjoto,(who is SA to the Edo State Governor,Mr Godwin Obaseki on House of Assembly matters), thirteen of the PDP members were shot in Ekpe, while three were shot in Ososo,both in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.
The PDP in Akoko-Edo alleged that the thugs that unleashed terror on PDP members were part of the APC campaign team canvassing for votes in Akoko-Edo LGA last week.for their candidate in the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State,Past Osagie Ize-iyamu.
The party appealed to President, Muhammadu Buhari and the IGP, Mohammed Adams to look into the matter,investigate and bring the culprits to book.” I appeal to the President, Muhammadu Buhari,who is a peaceful man to intervene in the matter, what we need in Edo is peace,a free and fair election,if you are the governor of Edo State,you can only be goveror of the living, you cannot be goveror of the dead. president Buhari,as the Command- in- Chief should please call his party men in Edo State to order, particularly the former chairman of APC,Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,one person must emerge as the winner ,come September 19.
“The winner will be governor of the living, not the dead.I was in APC for a long time,as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly,I contested under APC ,the party was not like this.Thugs, miscreants has taken over the party,of course that’s what made some of us to leave APC.We know President Muhammadu Buhari is not a thug,he is a level- headed person. He should intervene and clear his party of thugs.
“I visited Akoko-Edo, after the incident, what I saw was heart rendering,I saw an 84- years old man shot, his case is critical and only God that can tell, if he will survive or not, several others were injured, some to the chest, stomach and other places.”
He advised Akoko-Edo Edo people to remain calm, and not to take laws into their hands, maintaining that the Akoko-Edo People are peace loving People,and that what the APC plans, is to make Edo State ungovernable for the Governor and that thePDP does not want that. He said picture of the victims are not good for the camera.
“Some pictures are not good for the camera, imagine the intestines of human being outside his stomach, because of the kind of gun shots they received.I am appealing to Edo APC to allow peace to reign.We appeal to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to allow peace to reign.”
In his earlier address the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akoko-Edo,Prince Kayode Ogunnubi, alleged that on 28 August, gunmen from the campaign train of the APC led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole opened fire on PDP members at Ekpe, Akoko-Edo, while they (PDP) were having meeting and that at the process thirteen People were injured and are presently critical in the hospital beds.
He stated that the same gunmen shot and injured three persons in Ososo community for wearing governor Obaseki branded face csps,Ogunnubi called on the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the IGP, Mohammed Adamu to intervene, arrest and prosecute those involved in the act.
He said the All Progressives Congress should be made to halt their campaign in Akoko-Edo LGA, till tension subsides,or else Akoko-Edo people will be made to resist and defend themselves,if such urgly scenario plays out again.
“On 28 August, gunmen from the campaign train of the APC led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole opened fire on PDP members at Ekpe, Akoko-Edo, while having meeting and, consequently thirteen People were injured and are presently critical in the hospital beds.
“The same gunmen shot and injured three persons in Ososo community for wearing governor Obaseki branded face-cap.We calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the IGP, Mohammed Adamu to intervene, arrest and prosecute those involved in these acts.
“We further call on the All Progressives Congress to halt their campaign in Akoko-Edo LGA till tension subsides,or else Akoko-Edo people will be made to resist and defend themselves,if such urgly scenario plays out again.” He concluded.
Reacting,the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists,Edo State Council, Comrade Roland Osakue condemned the act of violence and maintained that election should be held in an atmosphere of peace He pleaded with the political parties to play by the rules.
When contacted,the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign team,John Mayaki said,he has learnt not to respond to lies from everybody.
