24th July, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Government has described as aberration, call by the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), that the Federal Government put Governor Godwin Obaseki on security watch.
The State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, stated this in a statement on Wednesday.
The state chairman of Edo APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, had in a statement alleged that Obaseki was engaging a section of civil society group and cultists from neighboring states, with sole the aim to recruit them for any protest that may be in the offing.
The party also demanded that the National Security Adviser carry out an urgent and comprehensive investigation on the recent meetings that was held by Obaseki, within and outside Edo State, withdraw or change his security details as the day for the planned protest draws nearer and restrict the governor’s movement before the planned protest, especially on the protest day.
He further alleged that Obaseki has made plans “with Edo State Security Network (ESSN), POWOV and thugs from the five other South-South States of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa.”
According to him, “In the wake of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s threat that he will burn down Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to alert the security agencies that, facts have emerged of an engagement between Obaseki and a section of Civil Society Group drawn from Edo State and cultists from neighboring states, with 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.”
Tenebe described as embarrassing and worrisome, that the “State House of Assembly has turned blind eyes to the danger Obaseki has become, as the Speaker and members have refused to condemn the serious security breach the governor has committed.”
Responding, Chris Nehikhare in his statement expressed surprise at APC’s allegations, describing it as an irony.
He said: “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. What an irony!”
