Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has petitioned the Edo Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS), seeking the prosecution of former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole and the APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for recruiting and arming youths ahead of the September 19, 2020 governorship poll.
Speaking in Benin shortly after submitting the petition, Shaibu urged security agencies to take action and bring them to book, so that the state can have peace.
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He alleged that Oshiomhole is plotting to set the state ablaze in connivance with his party’s gubernatorial candidate, noting that both of them have verifiable history of recruiting armed thugs to prosecute elections.
“I have to cry out because I know both of them very well, even in the dark; I can clearly identify their hands.
“I am concerned because if not checked, it portends grave danger for our state, before, during and after the September 19, 2020 gubernatorial election.
“I believe you are all aware of the recent killings in their camp, where five members were mauled down in Ikhin, Owan West Local Government Area of the state.”
“On Friday, August 14, 2020, the youths gathered in Ikhin to share money after their poorly organised rally in Afuze.
“A disagreement within them led to the shooting that resulted in the death of five youths.
“The question here is, who armed the youths to kill themselves?
“This clearly shows that the APC former national chairman has pushed out so much arms in readiness for the election as they have nobody on ground supporting them.
“In view of this, I want to urge the security agencies to take action now and bring them to book so that Edo can have peace, otherwise, their desperation and thirst for power portends bad omen for our dear state,” Shaibu alleged.
Responding through his spokesperson, Victor Oshioke, Oshiomhole described Shaibu as a liar and a person whose penchant for violence is legendary.
“Oshiomhole has no history of sponsoring violence even in his own election.
“He did not sponsor violence in Obaseki and Shaibu’s election.
“So he or APC have no reason to sponsor violence in the election of Ize-Iyamu, when the APC candidate is clearly in the lead ahead.”
According to him, Shaibu’s accusations against Oshiomhole are mere revelations of what he (Shaibu) is planning to perpetuate ahead of the elections in September.
“His accusations against Oshiomhole are baseless.
“He is the one arming thugs to visit violence of members of APC.”
