Outrage as Edo deputy speaker, others reward assault on govt’s critic

By Jethro Ibileke

The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Osamwonyi Evbaguehita Atu, has sparked public outrage and condemnation after pledging a cash reward of ₦300,000 to Ehimare Erewele, for allegedly assaulting a government critic, Albert Obaze, in the United Kingdom.
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The State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Patrick Aisowieren, and the Acting Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Gabriel Iduseri, also pledged ₦500,000 and ₦300,000 respectively to the assailant.
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It would be recalled that ‎Obaze, a popular social media influencer known for his critical commentary on governance and developments in Edo, was reportedly confronted and assaulted by Erewele, popularly known as “Double Chief,” during a livestream in the UK.
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The trio of Atu, Aisowieren and Iduseri were seen in a viral video exchanging banter with the attacker while making the monetary pledges and commending him for the assault, a development that has drawn widespread criticism.
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‎Concerned citizens lamented that the gestures amount to promoting hostility and normalising violence.
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‎A resident, Iyesurobo Victor, said public officials ought to exemplify tolerance, not encourage aggression.
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According to him, ‎“Leaders should be examples of restraint and promoters of peace, not sponsors of aggression. Such behaviour from public office holders undermines the dignity of leadership and raises questions about the values being promoted by those in authority.
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“If individuals can openly fund an act of assault on another, what stops them from influencing elections through questionable means?”