….as EDSG warns that attempt to rig the Edo election will trigger crisis in Nigeria
Accusations and canter accusations have continued to trail the political violence that erupted in Benin City last Thursday where a Police officer lost his life, by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the People’s Democratic Party PDP and the Edo State government.
The latest of such blame games is the condemnation by the Edo State chapter of the APC of an alleged threat to burn down Nigeria based on allegations and canter allegations on the murder of Inspector Akor Onuh, a Police officer attached to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the APC in the Edo 2024 governorship election.
But the Edo State government accused the Edo State chapter of APC of planning to unleash violence on Edo people to pave way for them to manipulate the 21 September governorship election.
In a statement signed by the Edo State Chairman of the APC Emperor Jarret Tenebe and made available to newsmen in Benin City, called on the Edo State House of Assembly to tame Governor Godwin Obaseki and his alleged threat.
They also called on the Governor’s impeachment.
“We are calling on the State House of Assembly to immediately condemn Obaseki’s reckless and dangerous threat to burn down Nigeria”.
Reacting to the APC’s accusation on behalf of the Edo State government, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare insists that
“If APC does not allow free, fair election in Edo, it will trigger a crisis in Nigeria”.
Nehikhare, who clarified the view expressed by the governor during a recent political meeting in the State, accused the opposition party of trying to exploit the instrument of violence to influence the outcome of the September 21 governorship election in the State assuring that the Edo State government has close circuit television footage that will assist the Police to get to the root of last Thursday violence in the state.
According to the commissioner: “The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to the negative spin that the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is fruitlessly attempting to put to the comments made by His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, at a stakeholders meeting, on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.”
“For the records, we want to restate the comments of the governor on that occasion which is that: “If a free and fair election is not allowed to hold sway in Edo State on September 21, 2024, it will trigger a major crisis in Nigeria.”
“The Edo State Government, through its robust security video surveillance, is ready to supply these videos taken in real-time to help the Police in their investigation.”