EDO GUBER: Tension heightens as PDP, APC trade blames over murder, violence

…Shaibu remains impeached despite court judgement –EDSG

…CP vows to execute court judgement if so directed

BY TITUS AKHIGBE & TUNDE OPALANA

Tension is heightening in Edo State ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election as the coming days portend anxiety as APC, the party at the centre is being accused of masterminding violence so it could sweep PDP out of power in the state.

Saturday Times gathered that following the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, which reinstated the impeached deputy governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu,Edo State government has insisted that he remains impeached, saying he should be arrested and prosecuted for the violence that erupted at Benin Airport, resulting in the death of a police officer, Inspector Akor Anu.

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In a press conference addressed by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon.Chris Nehikhare,he insisted that Shaibu remains impeached. His words :”following the judgement of the federal High court in Abuja which faulted the impeachment of the former deputy governor, comrade Philip Shaibu, the Edo State Government immediately filed a notice of appeal and stay of execution on the judgement, as it is the government’s right. This we have since communicated to the relevant authorities, including the Police, in accordance with the law.

“The filing of a stay of execution in response to a court order or judgement means that the status quo is maintained by all parties. Therefore, Philip Shaibu remains impeached as the deputy Governor of Edo State until the Appeal Court decides otherwise. More so, the enforcement of a court judgment is neither carried out by the parties involved nor their hirelings, but by law enforcement agents.

“But in a blatant disregard for the stay of execution as well as law and order, Philip Shaibu mobilized thugs armed with sophisticated weapons within and outside the Airport compound in a bid to make a show of his return to Benin following the court judgement, unleashing mayhem on the people and stirring crisis in the State in the guise of executing the Federal High Court judgement.

Continuing, Nehikhare said,”The State Commissioner of Police, with the intelligence available to him, rushed to the Airport, approached Shaibu, and informed him of the filed stay of execution which he had in his possession, warning the former deputy governor against marching to the Edo State Government House, which was Shaibu’s original plan.

“With the disappointment by this development, Shaibu disregarded the advice and warnings from the Commissioner of Police and exited the airport precincts into the waiting crowd of thugs who then moved with him into the City, shooting sporadically and unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens, who were minding their lawful businesses. This mindless shooting and breakdown of law and order resulted in the wanton destruction of property, infliction of various degrees of injuries on passersby and security operatives and the loss of the life of a policeman.

“The incident is condemnable and unacceptable and the Edo State Government condoles with the Nigerian Police Force and the family of the police officer who tragically lost his life in that incident. It’s quite disappointing but not surprising that the Commissioner of Police despite his intervention couldn’t rein in Philip Shaibu and his thugs, leading to this unnecessary loss of life.

“We know that the game plan of Shaibu and his ilk was to cause as much destruction, mayhem, and chaos within the Benin metropolis with the aim of creating a sense of unrest and crisis so that they could cry and appeal to the Federal Government as victims, expecting them to, in response, begin the arrest of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, including myself, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation. Federal Government or Federal might is the only campaign strategy they boastfully articulate whènever they talk of the election. This episode is just one of the scenes in their how to capture Edo script.

“The Edo State Government is calling on the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to immediately begin investigations to unravel the root cause of this breach of law and order in the State as well as the death of the gallant police officer whose duty it was to protect the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and ensure that the culprits are prosecuted.

However, the All Progressives Congress(APC) has called for a thorough Investigation into the Massive Security Failure Behind Senator Monday Okpebholo’s assasination attempt at the Benin airport.

According to a terse statement by the Director of Publicity,APC Edo Governorship campaign council,comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo,”Yesterday, July 18, 2024, our candidate for the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, escaped an assassination attempt when he arrived the Benin Airport to continue his campaigns. Sadly, the assasins succeeded in gruesomely taking the life of Police Inspector Onu Ako, one of his security details.

“Okpebholo’s peaceful procession from airport to the APC Secretariat would have been conducted peacefully without any problem if the gunmen have not decided to ambush the candidate and his supporters at the Benin airport exit. Let it be known that our candidate did not commit any crime by passing through the airport gate after arriving from Abuja. Likewise, members of the APC who received him on his arrival.

“Those that committed the murder of Inspector Ako and attempted to assassinate Senator Okpebholo are the hired criminals who were identified by security agents present at the scene as representatives of the opposition party. This unprovoked horrific act of political violence against a peaceful Nigerian Senator should have no place in Edo State. It should be unanimously and forcefully condemned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the good people of Edo State.

“The party is also appalled by the pains caused by injuries sustained by hundreds of our members during the unexpected attack. We are grateful that Senator Okpebholo appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful motorcade.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and the State Security Service to probe this assasination attempt and bring the culprits to book and also rein in state sponsored criminals who have brazenly made the political landscape unsafe. Anything short of this, is capable of encouraging self help in the state, especially as we enter the crucial campaign season. “

Meanwhile, the Edo State commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye in a press conference stated that he was at the airport to maintain law and order.His words,”Our own is to maintain law and order. Where we discover that we have a crowd we go there. So, we were there, myself and my men. It was after these people left the airport that we heard about the shooting that led to the death of the Inspector (Akor Onu, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s security aide). We’re having some names which will very soon be in our net and we will carry out very thorough investigation.

On police casualty, the Commissioner of Police said,”We have the death of Inspector Onu. I was personally at the hospital. That was the casualty we had at the hospital. I saw others with minor injuries. They were treated and discharged.

“Nobody gave me any intelligence about any incident. I was at the airport to see things myself with my men and to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order. And there was no single incident at the airport. I repeat no single incident within the premises of the airport. People were jubilating, singing, dancing until after the airport premises.

On enforcement of the court judgment reinstating Shaibu as deputy governor, he said,”The issue of court judgment, counter judgment we should not be dragged into this. The temple of justice, the courts, are there. And like I said it is not for the police to go and execute except we have been so directed. Our own is to ensure the safety of the court bailiffs who are specifically in charge of enforcing of court judgment. We’re still expecting directives from the appropriate quarters.”