Allow The Rule Of Law And A Level Playing Ground - Obahiagbon Urges Obaseki
By Isaac Eranga
The Vice-Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, APC National Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) the Police, and other relevant stakeholders to request Governor Godwin Obaseki to allow the rule of law and a level democratic playing field to hold supreme between now and the end of the Edo governorship elections.
Briefing Journalists in Benin City, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon said "this request is not too much to asked of a sitting governor as it is no longer news that state-sponsored elements, acting under the clear direction of the edo state government, destroyed the APC’s billboards and other physical infrastructure and paraphernalia of partisan campaign.
Hon. Obahiagbon spoke on the recent attacked by Obaseki's thugs at the entrance of the palace of the Oba of Benin were some APC supporters sustained various degree of injuries.
"Only yesterday, Saturday the 25th of July, the Governor’s army of thugs and cultists descended on protesters at the entrance of the Palace of our great King, the Oba of Benin, and other parts of the Benin metropolis, sending many to the hospital with gunshot wounds because they dared to express their rejection we were made to understand of the out-going governor who instead of fixing the humongous problems bedeviling the state such as the payment of owed salaries and fixing the states challenging ecological issues inter alia, rather chose to invite "tax-collectors" to the State to further feast on the State's treasury.
"We are shocked that after that palace incident, APC’s supporters and all our party members wearing Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu's caps and t-shirts were physically assaulted in the streets of Benin and we have those willing to testify to this brazen act of unprovoked street assault. This is unacceptable to us as a party. How long more can we persuade our teeming party loyalists to hold back?
"Worse still, information have also reached us from sources in Obaseki’s government who are but disillusioned with his nefarious acts, that the governor has plotted and perfected a criminally appalling initiative aimed at subverting the will of the people" the statement reads.
The Vice-Chairman said since Mr. Obaseki has saw the handwriting on the wall that the forthcoming September 19 election will not favour him, he choose to organised thugs to cause mayhem in the state.
He said: Having pellucidly read the handwriting on the wall that he faces a monumental defeat and an electoral opprobrium on the 19th of September, Obaseki aims to illegally strike what he deems the head and important political leaders of our party with the hopes of subverting the election.
"Name prominent leaders of the APC have been compiled to be dealt with, intimidated, harassed, terrorized, physically assaulted, and lacerated by state-sponsored goons.
"He 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.
"These anomalies and acts of political desperadoism, are direct affronts on the country’s constitution and the rule of law" the statement concluded.
By Isaac Eranga
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| Hon. Patrick Obahiagbo |
Briefing Journalists in Benin City, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon said "this request is not too much to asked of a sitting governor as it is no longer news that state-sponsored elements, acting under the clear direction of the edo state government, destroyed the APC’s billboards and other physical infrastructure and paraphernalia of partisan campaign.
Hon. Obahiagbon spoke on the recent attacked by Obaseki's thugs at the entrance of the palace of the Oba of Benin were some APC supporters sustained various degree of injuries.
"Only yesterday, Saturday the 25th of July, the Governor’s army of thugs and cultists descended on protesters at the entrance of the Palace of our great King, the Oba of Benin, and other parts of the Benin metropolis, sending many to the hospital with gunshot wounds because they dared to express their rejection we were made to understand of the out-going governor who instead of fixing the humongous problems bedeviling the state such as the payment of owed salaries and fixing the states challenging ecological issues inter alia, rather chose to invite "tax-collectors" to the State to further feast on the State's treasury.
"We are shocked that after that palace incident, APC’s supporters and all our party members wearing Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu's caps and t-shirts were physically assaulted in the streets of Benin and we have those willing to testify to this brazen act of unprovoked street assault. This is unacceptable to us as a party. How long more can we persuade our teeming party loyalists to hold back?
"Worse still, information have also reached us from sources in Obaseki’s government who are but disillusioned with his nefarious acts, that the governor has plotted and perfected a criminally appalling initiative aimed at subverting the will of the people" the statement reads.
The Vice-Chairman said since Mr. Obaseki has saw the handwriting on the wall that the forthcoming September 19 election will not favour him, he choose to organised thugs to cause mayhem in the state.
He said: Having pellucidly read the handwriting on the wall that he faces a monumental defeat and an electoral opprobrium on the 19th of September, Obaseki aims to illegally strike what he deems the head and important political leaders of our party with the hopes of subverting the election.
"Name prominent leaders of the APC have been compiled to be dealt with, intimidated, harassed, terrorized, physically assaulted, and lacerated by state-sponsored goons.
"He 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.
"These anomalies and acts of political desperadoism, are direct affronts on the country’s constitution and the rule of law" the statement concluded.
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