The deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday alerted the state police commissioner, Nemo Edwin-Iwo, on the security implication of allowing the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki, return the suspended Edo State Security Network (ESN) to the streets, as he prepares to leave office. Shaibu accused the governor of taking actions that would cause chaos in the state by the time he leaves office on November 12......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Recall that the ESN was suspended a few weeks before the September 21 governorship election in the state.
Fielding questions from journalists after a closed-door meeting with the commissioner of police, Shaibu also faulted Obaseki’s decision to appoint a traditional ruler for Okpella in Etsako East local government area which has reportedly claimed some lives.
The governor had after the State Security Council meeting for the month of October on Monday, said since the election was over, the vigilante would be brought back in view of the anticipated rise in road accidents and criminal activities during the ’ember’ months, among other reasons.
But faulting Governor Obaseki, Shaibu said, “I have to come to see the Commissioner of Police to explain to him that the Edo vigilante cannot resume work. The Edo vigilante that we have as constituted today, is to cause mayhem to political opponents. We have it on authority because as the deputy governor of Edo State, I have security reports, both official and unofficial, so, I am aware that the governor and his team want to get them back to use them to cause disharmony in the state and go after APC members that are protesting.
“Every citizen of this country has the right to protest and also protect his own interest. The PDP protested to the INEC office today; APC also protested at the place to ensure that there is no tampering with election materials, but he wants to use the vigilante to intimidate people.
“What I expect the police to be doing now is to recover the arms and ammunition in the hands of these vigilantes which the governor gave to them. As we speak, the Nigerian Police is doing well. Some of the personnel that came during the election and their equipment are still around for post-election security issues, so why is the governor in a hurry to bring vigilante back?
“Some decisions the governor is taking are causing problems in the state. Imagine, four weeks to go, he is giving staff of office to some traditional rulers. What stopped this governor for the past five years for instance from installing the Okuopellagbe of Okpella? I am told that some people died yesterday because of that singular action. The Okuopellagbe died over five years ago, and the council brought names to him to announce but he refused just to cause crisis.
“The governor has created a lot of divisions in the state. Father and son fighting; friends can no longer talk to each other. That is how divided he has made the state”.