What looks like the violent part of Edo 2020 gubernatorial election manifested on Saturday in Benin City the Edo capital as supporters of the ruling PDP and that of the opposition, APC clash at the gate of the Oba palace in Benin City, leaving many with bullet wounds, cars and campaign billboards destroyed.
The PDP leaders,who were in Benin City for the flag-off of the Goodwin Obseki / Philip Shaibu campaign were on a courtesy call to the palace of the Oba of Benin, when youths believed to be supporters of one of the political parties begin to shoot at the gate of the palace, injuring many and destroying cars with PDP flags.
A woman believed to be hawking sustained bullet wounds on her buttocks,while many others were hit by bullets and were taken to an undisclosed hospital. Cars and billboards with PDP banners were destroyed.
The leaders of the PDP at Oba Palace for the courtesy call were,the national chairman of the party,Uche Secondus;the chairman Edo2020 campaign council and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike;the chairman of PDP Governors Forum,Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal; the governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed;Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Others were Bayelsa State Governor,Duoye Diri; the host Governor, Goodwin Obaseki;Senate Minority Leader,Enyinaya Abariabe; Senator Dino Melaye among others.
Reacting to the attack,the Edo State Governor,Mr Godwin Obaseki, said at the flagg-off campaign held at the newly renovated Tennis Courts of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, that a Benin billionaire hired thugs to attack his visitors and the PDP campaign machinery.
But in his reaction,the All Progressive Congress ((APC) through the Media Campaign Council of the APC for the governorship election accused Governor Godwin Obaseki and his party, PDP of unleashing violence on the people in Benin City following a confrontation in which the Governor was booed and embarrassed.
The Chairman of the Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki, in a statement released yesterday, said “the Governor instructed his thugs to attack the people as retribution for their public booing of his arrival with various chants labeling him a thief and rejected candidate and for spurning his rally allegedly attended by tax-collectors and mobilized thugs.”
He also accused the Governor and his loyalists of destroying their own billboards at few locations in the State as a gimmick to deflect responsibility and get a reprieve for the alleged organized destruction of APC billboards after the party filed a petition with the Police and other relevant
agencies.According to him “It is sad that Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing Governor of Edo State, has, Saturday, July 25, displayed the same traits of intolerance and penchant for violence that made the people of Edo State unanimously reject him.
“Booed by the people at the entrance of the Palace of our great Oba for handing the State to the PDP tax collectors who are unconscionably feasting on our collective patrimony, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, as an act of revenge, instructed the thugs and cultists he has spent the past few weeks recruiting in the State and beyond to attack the people with dangerous arms.
“This criminal and heartless action not only affirms our repeated warnings that Mr. Godwin Obaseki fully intends to prosecute the election with violence and thuggery, but it also shows his lack of empathy, conscience, and respect for the lives and dignity of the people he was elected to serve.
“His thugs have presently invaded the State Capital, unleashing mayhem to anyone perceived to be critical of the failed Governor or supportive of our party and candidate. After converging at the venue of the Governor’s campaign flag-off, they have poured into the streets, vandalizing properties and causing panic. We have heard unconfirmed reports of fatal injuries.
“Furthermore, as a way to avoid responsibility and expected sanction for the undemocratic and criminal destruction of our billboards, the Governor’s thugs are going around the city, deliberately pulling down their own billboards in an orchestrated gimmick meant to portray the false impression of “violence on both sides” when in truth, the desperate Governor, in cahoots with his PDP godfathers, are the ones threatening the peace of the State.
“We condemn this action in totality and demand immediate intervention by the Police and other security agencies. Our party, the APC, has built an effective campaign on the strength of our documented manifesto. Tellingly, on the back of four years of no achievement, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has neither a plan nor record of office to show, hence the resort to violence and thuggery.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police and all well-meaning Nigerians to immediately rein on Mr. Godwin Obaseki and begin the arrest of his recruited thugs who are committed to causing chaos and violence in a bid to prevent the people, who have already voiced their rejection of Obaseki, from participating in the election freely and without intimidation.” He concluded.
