Boy hit by stray bullet as Obaseki condemns attack on campaign train

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condemned the attack on his campaign train by hoodlums stationed in Ward 10, Apana, Uzairue, Etsako West Local Government Area, where the former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole hails from.

It was learnt that a boy who was on an errand was hit by a stray bullet and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

The Thursday’s attack lasted for over five minutes as the security agents attached to the governor and the campaign train engaged in a gun battle with the hoodlums, who were allegedly hired by the opposition to disrupt the Apana rally.

The spokesman of the governor, Crusoe Osagie in a statement issued on Thursday, said the attack was foiled by a combined team of security personnel and vigilante groups.

He added that the hoodlums abandoned their motorcycles and took to their heels as they were overpowered by the security agents.

The campaign at Ward 10 in Apana resumed after normalcy was restored.

Addressing members of PDP and supporters at Apana Village Square on Thursday afternoon, Obaseki alleged that Oshiomhole has made several attempts to scuttle his re-election efforts.

The Governor vowed not to succumb to the antics of some members of the main opposition party in the state to plunge the state into chaos, which could result in the postponement of the election.

“As we were coming here (Village Square in Apana), you heard what happened. They went to hire thugs and began to shoot to prevent us from coming here. On September 19, 2020, use your Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to ‘pepper them’.

“Ward 10 is a special ward. This election is special. It will show who is in charge of politics in Edo State.

“For all my eight years in Government, you know what I did for Comrade Oshiomhole. He said it with his mouth. I supported him to be the Governor. I raised funds for him. I worked for him and Edo State for eight years without receiving a dime,” he said.

The governor also promised to construct the Apana-Iriakho road.

“It’s a shame that someone from this area can’t fix roads for his people. This road, Apana-Iriakho, leads to the house of Lucky James and has not been fixed, but by October, I will bring bulldozers to commence the construction of the road.

“We will improve the healthcare system in this area, improve the Auchi General Hospital and open the one at Otuo; we will bring real empowerment to the people and improve agriculture through provision of seedlings, fertilizer and loans.”

Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, urged the people never to be afraid or intimidated by any attack.

He further called on them to use their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to reject the APC during the governorship election in the state.

On his part, Patrick Inobemhe, appealed to the governor to help improve their healthcare system to stop their people from seeking healthcare service outside the area.