With days to the 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Thursday morning, threatened to boycott the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee for the signing of Peace Accord by political parties participating in the exercise.
Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Emperor Jerret Tenebe in an address while announcing the party’s decision few hours to the event, however gave conditions for the party to partake in the peace pact led by former Head of State, General Abubakar.
The position of the main opposition party is coming barely 24 hours after Governor Godwin Obaseki stated that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not participate in signing of peace accord, citing alleged bias on the part of the Nigeria Police.
Addressing newsmen at the APC Secretariat, Tenebe said the police should be seen to take steps to declare some person alleged to have involved in the shooting that led to the killing of the security aide to the APC candidate, Inspector Akor Onuh and others.
The party reeled out the names of those it alleged to have masterminded attacks on the APC in Akoko-Edo, Ososo and Etsako Central, urging the police to declare them wanted.
“For us to sign the peace accord, the Police should be seen to be taking steps by declaring the underlisted persons wanted and ransom placed on them since it is evidently clear that they are being harboued in Government House by His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki.”
Tenebe, while chronicling alleged infraction against the APC by the PDP pointed out that, “Two months ago, the then Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, told Nigerians that the command had the names of those who murdered Inspector Onuh Akor at the Benin airport. Inspector Akor was shot by members of Edo State Security Network when they unleashed mayhem on APC supporters who were at the airport to receive the deputy governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu who was in the company of Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC Governorship Candidate, while returning from Abuja.
“It’s saddening to note that for more than two months that this ugly incident took place, the police is still unable to arrest and prosecute those that have been identified to be involved in the callout and unprovoked attack, as Governor Obaseki, who professed and proclaimed that he is the Chief Security Officer of the State, has warehoused these callous and notable hoodlums in Government House.
“This failure of the police has emboldened the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Peoples Democratic Party to attack members of our political party at rally grounds and in their private businesses premises ceaselessly.
“The Governor has made inflammatory statements that has undermined his position as the Chief Security Officer of the State. Of particular concern, was when he said that Nigeria will burn if police attempts to arrest those who were involved in the killing of Inspector Akor Onuh
“In Ososo and Igarra both in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, thugs sponsored by the Local Government Council Chairman, Tajudeen Alade-Suleman, attacked our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo along with other leaders while campaigning in the locality. Same were replicated in Ugbekpe Ekperi, Etsako Central Local Government Area led by the Chairman of the Council Solomon Obomighie.
“Just last Sunday, the Esan West Local Government Council Chairman, Collins Aigbogun led a gang of PDP thugs to attack APC supporters who were preparing for campaigns in Ekpoma. They also destroyed businesses that belongs to APC supporters,” Tenebe said.