EDO PDP REACTS TO ACTION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (ACN) WICKED AND CRIMINAL ACCUSATIONS

May 5, 2012 | By admin More

PRESS STATEMENT

Gentlemen of the Press:

We have decided to address you today following the reckless, wicked and criminal allegations of Governor Oshiomhole and the ACN against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State.

First, it was the issue of the automobile accident involving Governor Oshiomhole’s convoy on his way from Afuze which led to the deaths of three journalists in the state.

We have already addressed the press on this vexatious, obnoxious and frivolous allegation. The only thing to add here is that Edo people should begin to question the rascality that led to a state governor driving himself at a reckless speed in a convoy in an attempt to attend three functions slated for the day and at three extreme distances in the state. This action puts at risk, his own life and the lives of the people that were with him.

The second issue is the allegation that the PDP is responsible for the assassination of Governor Oshiomhole’s Principal Private Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

This allegation is again ridiculous, vexatious, unfounded and a figment of the governor and ACN’s imagination. It is very clear that Governor Oshiomhole and the ACN are trying to incite the good people of Edo State against the PDP.

The attempt to gain undue publicity, cheap popularity and sympathy of Edo people will fail woefully.

This latest unwholesome and despicable accusation by Governor Oshiomhole shows clearly that he is a drowning man waiting to drag innocent people into the mud with him.

The police have been mandated and should be allowed to do their investigation to unravel the cause of death of the said private secretary. Until the police come up with its findings, we will maintain a dignified silence and remain law abiding in the face of this obviously wicked provocation.

However, the good people of Edo State know and will not be deceived by the antics of Governor Oshiomhole whose days as governor of Edo State are definitely numbered. The plan of Governor Oshiomhole is to deliberately, with these accusations, divert attention from the scandalous revelation of his multi-billion private estate under construction at his hometown of Iyamho. The world must know the truth.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s unguarded and inciting press statements against the PDP should be condemned by all the good people of Edo State. Pastor Ize-Iyamu is well known for what he is. A split personality and a mischief-maker. He was the principal architect or the brain box of the inglorious government that short changed Edo people from 1999 to 2007.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu and his co-accusers should be advised to look inwards for the killers of the governor’s private secretary.

Adams Oshiomhole has a long history of controversial deaths of close associates. The first was Chima Ubani who, while travelling in Oshiomhole’s official car, in September 2005, died in a ghastly accident inside that car on his way from Maiduguri where he attended an anti-subsidy removal rally organised by labour.

This is also not the first time we are witnessing deaths in Edo State Government House, under the governorship of Oshiomhole. In 2008, exactly one month after he assumed office as governor of Edo State, his Personal Assistant, Mr. Greg Aruna and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chris Nwachukwu died in a mysterious automobile accident along Ewu-Auchi Road.

You would also recall that while returning from a party in Governor Oshiomhole’s residence in Iyamho, a group of girls that attended the party lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident inside Hon. Phillip Shaibu’s official Aventis Car. If these deaths had occurred now, Governor Oshiomhole and his handlers would have told the world that PDP was responsible. In nearly fifty years of our existence – from Midwest Region, Bendel State and now Edo State, we have never had it this bad.

Edo people should be aware that the governor knows what is happening to people around him and should be advised to look inward for the killers of his private secretary instead of falsely accusing the PDP. God Almighty, in his mercy and grace will fish out the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. They certainly will not go unpunished.

Still down memory lane, in 2010, the then state PDP Chairman, Chief Samson Ikhabafe, lost his life in a ghastly and mysterious accident along with his first son who had just been called to the bar. The PDP did not accuse the ACN or anybody for that matter for this occurrence. Also a top member of the PDP, Elder Tes Sorae, was attacked on his way from church at his gate. In that armed attack, his wife and two police orderlies were killed, his two daughters were shot on the foot and the man himself was taken away and had to pay huge sums of money as ransom before he was released.

Other prominent indigenes of Edo State, since Governor Oshiomhole came to power in 2008, have been kidnapped and killed in Edo State without any accusations or counter-accusations from the PDP, as to who committed the dastardly acts. This year alone, the Nigeria Police, Force Headquarters Report about crimes in Edo State have it that six murder cases and five kidnapping cases were reported in January. In February there were ten kidnappings and armed robbery cases and three cases of attempted murder and in March there were ten kidnapping cases and eight armed robbery cases. In April, a gang led by Kingsley Ewohine and Nicholas were paraded by the SSS as kingpins of kidnappings. Another gang was paraded that killed an SSS operative during ransom payment. Also a journalist working with ITV Benin, Mr. Chuks Ogu was killed in his home. In all of these cases nobody accused the ACN of complicity in these criminal acts.

These crimes have continued unabated till date. Even though Governor Oshiomhole has collected billions of naira as security votes to meet these security challenges. These happenings point to the fact that the governor has not been able to justify the huge billions of taxpayers’ money paid to him as security votes. These obviously have occasioned the lack of security of lives and properties in the state. Edo PDP has been hammering on the insecurity in the state for a very long time without the state government doing anything.

We are aware that the main objective of these wicked and baseless accusations against the PDP is to prepare the ground for unleashing terror and violence on notable PDP leaders in Edo State to weaken the tempo of our campaign and give him undue advantage.

This sadistic plan, which is reprehensible, pernicious and misdirected, must be condemned by all well-meaning and peace-loving people of Edo State.

As a law abiding party, the PDP in Edo State, earnestly pleads with Edo people and its members to remain calm and law abiding, and urges the Nigeria Police to expedite action and conclude its investigation speedily and make same public.

Thank you.

Signed:

Chief Dan Osi Orbih
Chairman, PDP
Edo State

Tags: automobile accident, criminal allegations, drowning man, extreme distances