The Edo State Government and the opposition All Progressives Congress were, on Wednesday, engaged in a war of words over allegation of cultists’ recruitment as the September 21 governorship election draws closer. The acting Chairman of the Edo APC, Jarrett Tenebe, alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki was recruiting cultists to unleash violence on the opposition, calling on the National Security Adviser to keep the governor under watch......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
But in a swift reaction, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, accused the APC of engaging in a campaign of calumny against the governor.
The acting Edo APC Chairman, Tenebe, in a statement on Wednesday, said the opposition party found it imperative to raise the alarm “in the wake of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s threat that he will burn down Nigeria.”
According to Tenebe, “facts have emerged of an engagement between Obaseki and a section of civil society group drawn from Edo State and cultists from neighbouring states, with the sole aim to recruit them for any protest that may be in the offing.”
“The aim of his plan is to create anarchy in Edo State and the five other South-South states and blame the APC for the destructions that will follow the protest.
“It is embarrassing and worrisome that the Edo State House of Assembly has turned a blind eye to the danger Obaseki has become, as the Speaker and members have refused to condemn the serious security breach the governor has committed.
“The prevailing circumstance is worrisome and demands urgent action that will frustrate the plan Obaseki has made with Edo State Security Network, POWOV and thugs from the five other South-South States of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa,” Tenebe added.
He appealed to the National Security Adviser to carry out an urgent and comprehensive investigation on the alleged meetings Obaseki had been having to recruit thugs and cultists.
But the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Nehikhare, rubbished the claim by the APC leader, describing it as a complete falsehood.
Nehikhare said it was the APC that should rather be under a security watch list for alleged violence.
The commissioner said, “It is not unexpected to see the All Progressives Congress in Edo State resort to campaigns of calumny and mudslinging, peddling falsehoods and mistruths. It is rather surprising that the APC is calling on the Presidency to put Governor Obaseki on the watch list when there are obvious pictures and videos of APC members wielding sophisticated weapons in the presence of policemen, breaching public peace and unleashing mayhem on the people of the state, and are still walking free. Their names are not on any watch list and they have not been arrested and prosecuted.
“The APC is reeling from the fact that they have a candidate who has continued to inflict the party and its handlers with the pain of making up stories to confuse Edo people and distract them from the main issue, which is selling their vision and plans to the people of the state.
“One wonders why a party that has issued over 150 press statements in the last three months will have none addressing the vision of the party and its candidate and how they plan to implement the vision to better the lots of Edo people.”
Nehikhare said the PDP did not need to engage in violence to win allegation because Governor Obaseki’s sterling performance in office speaks for the party.
He said, “The Peoples Democratic Party Government in Edo State, led by Governor Obaseki, commits one billion monthly to provide food palliative to millions of residents, amid the suffering that the people of the state and Nigerians have been plunged into by the APC-led Federal Government as a result of the gross mismanagement of the economy.
“It is expected that the APC should share their plans on how to ameliorate the sufferings and hardship of the people rather than resort to their usual ramblings, lies and propaganda.
“Edo people are wise and can’t be deceived by the diversionary tactics of the APC. They are interested in the candidate and want to hear him canvass his vision for the state. In fact, we don’t want him to speak in English anymore, because we know he doesn’t have the capacity to; he can speak to us in his mother tongue, Esan, or pidgin. Edo people just want to hear him speak.
“We also want to place on record that various globally acclaimed organisations and institutions have taken notice of the achievements and exploits of the PDP government in the last eight years across various sectors, from the Liberian Government, to the Rwandan Government, and the Lagos State Government, among others. Even renowned faith-based organisation like Loveword have written several letters of congratulations, acknowledging the transformational projects and programmes carried out by the government in Edo State, which have fostered stability and progress. But the APC is blinded by their selfish interest.
“Edo people know better and come September 21, they will speak with one voice and the APC will be reminded, once again, that elections are not won by lies and alternative facts.”