The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council for the Edo State governorship election, yesterday, alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has perfected plans with “some unscrupulous members of the Police” to harass, intimidate, and persecute PDP members in order to cause chaos in Edo State.
Director general of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Organisation, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who made the allegation while addressing journalists in Benin City, alleged that the July 18 violence, which claimed the life of a Police officer, was perpetrated by known thugs of the APC who are yet to be arrested by the Police.
Iduoriyekemwen further said the APC recently tried to hoodwink the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (FCID) by orchestrating a petition against the chairman of Esan North East, Hon. Kelly llenedagbor, of allegedly brandishing pump action guns among other allegations.
“Consequently upon the above, we urge the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to maintain the high integrity that is associated with his Office, and also note that the Nigeria Police is a Police for all Nigerians and not an extension of the All Progressives Congress.
“We also call on the Inspector General of Police to use his good Offices to cause an unbiased and thorough investigation based on the above complaints”, the director general said.
Recall that the state chairman of the PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, last Sunday accused the Police of supporting the APC in Edo State, saying that petitions from the party were yet to be treated whereas those from the APC are often treated speedily.
Reacting to the PDP allegations, the Edo State chapter of the APC, in a statement by its director of Publicity, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said “Their (PDP) actions so far, is an attempt to harass the Police and block investigation of the violent crimes they have visited on the state and her people.
“In a saner clime, the PDP government in our state would have disbanded the Edo State Security Network, having been established that they were responsible for the death of Police Inspector Unuh Akor, the security aide that was attached to distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was murdered in cold blood by Obaseki’s cult infested private security outfit – ESSN.
“Rather than show remorse, the PDP has gone ahead to irresponsibly drag names of innocent people into their illicit lies. Nigerians may wish to note that, the Vanguard Newspapers have tendered apology for accepting and publishing the libelous advertorial that contained the names and faces of innocent Nigerians that had nothing to do with fatal shooting at the Benin airport.
“On the shameful incident that trailed the campaign of PDP in Uromi, which led to the arrest of an aide to Hon. Kelly Ilenedagbor, the Esan North East Local Government Council, chairman, the said aide was arrested by locals with assorted guns, to which he confessed that they were given to him by Ilenedagbor.
“APC condemns the reckless and criminal libelous statement involving the State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shainu, State Chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe and the State Youth Leader, Tony Adun. The illogical PDP narrative is to make Nigerians believe that the APC organized thugs to shoot into a convoy that was escorting Deputy Governor Shaibu and Senator Okpebholo out of the airport.
“We once again appeal to the National Security Adviser to do everything logically possible to outlaw Godwin Obaseki’s private ‘police’, the ESSN”, the statement said.