-Samson Osagie
” …it is that èm you know we can’t feel safe in the house of the our National Chairman, I am not sure that èm if I visit, go to the house of the National Chairman of PDP they will attack me the way they did in the house of the National Chairman of APC, its really unfortunate that things have degenerated to this extent, we will continue to pursue peace, we cannot afford to lose the gains of the last three years, we continue to pursue peace”
Above were the exact words of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State on 2nd November 2019 following the unfortunate incident of his denial of entrance to the country home of the National Chairman of the APC National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole after the Convoction of the Edo University, Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Let me state unequivocally that I condemn in strong terms any form of politically motivated violence or any violence for the matter as a means of settling scores and this recent one is not an exception. But my concern about what has become a harvest of political violence that have pervaded Edo State in recent times is that the Governor himself stoke the fire which has almost engulfed the entire polity.
Consequently, I will attempt to Chronicle them seriatim. First, on the 18th of June, 2019 members elect of the Edo State House of Assembly were attacked at Golden Tulip Hotel Etete , GRA, by hired thugs with full official cover by the state Security outfit codenamed “Wabaizigan” with the former CSO to the Governor Chris Nwankwo actively involved.
Some of the Lawmakers (including the younger brother of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole National Chairman of APC) were mercilessly beaten to stupor and subsequently detained.This incident led to the redeployment of the former CSO but the police never arrested the other participants in that despicable conduct up until now. Thereafter , the Governor organized a rally at Museum ground to issue out threats to all those who would dare to challenge his reign of tyranny and disregard for the rule of law. All in a bid to promote his second term ambition.
In Ovia North East, sometimes in October members of APC who were holding meeting in a hotel at Oluku were rudely disrupted by agents of state and two former House of Assembly members and a representatives member from the area sustained minor injuries. Reason was that the meeting was not sanctioned by the Governor
It has been a battle between Progressive forces in Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area and agents of the Secretary to the State Government over the decision of the former to liberate the Local government area from the shackles of inept and bad leadership. The combined team of police and state empowered touts have severally attacked the peraons and homes of leaders of Ikpoba/Okha Liberation Movement in a bid to cow them into submitting to the second term ambition of the Governor and the continous rulershhip of the SSG. No regard for the fundamental human rights to Association and movement of those aggrieved.
On October 12th, 2019 , thugs and state empowered touts invaded the house of the National Chairman of APC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and even though they didn’t meet him in the house they would have wrecked havoc on lives and properties but for the timely intervention of some APC members led by former Chairman of Oredo Local government area and the Chief Executive of Akugbe Ventures. This attack was validated by the Crackteam social media group of the Governor in a live video that subsequently went viral.
Only recently, at Ivbiaro Owan East Local Government Area, a polytechnic lecturer and some others were attacked at a meeting of the party members and seriously wounded with vehicles smashed by agents of the state of no less than a Commissioner for Education and a Local government Chairman. This incidence was bloody and was masterminded by agents of the Governor on his party members.
All the above cases are matters of public knowledge but the Governor never cared or express any sentiments about them, yet they involved Edo people whether or not they are in his support for second term.
Then came the what is now known as the Iyamho incidence which state sponsored reporters have spinned beyond recognition to give the impression that the National Chairman of the APC organized an attack on the Governor and some dignitaries who had attended the 1st Convocation of the Edo University,Iyamho on the 2nd of November 2019.
Regrettably as the event may seem its precursors in form of massive mobilization by agents of the state precipitated the reactions to led to the denial of the Governor’s access to the National Chairman residence by irrate youths who have become provoked by the invasion of the small community of Iyamho by youths from all over the state.
The questions which Edo State actors need to answer are : Why was it necessary for the Governor himself to come to Iyamho to attend a Convocation ceremony Of the University with 4+4 caps bearing supporters and even those fingered as the brains behind the attack on the National Chairman’s residence?. Why was it necessary for the Deputy Governor to ride on a Motor Cycle with several bike riders carrying state functionaries and thugs to Iyamho to attend a convocation ceremony? Was it a political rally or campaign or election related event that was taking place in Iyamho that required mobilization of people?
From what we now know a top state functionary was teargassed along with a retinue of bike riders and thugs when he wanted to forced them into the convocation arena. It is also on record that the guest lecturer at this year’s convocation of the University, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank took a swipe at the conversion of the Convocation to a political rally given the unruly behaviour and chanting of campaign slogans by those hired by the Governor to cheer him up as the best Governor the world has ever produced. The guest lecturer had
to threaten that unless and until those miscreants led by some state functionaries as high as Special Advisers and Commisioners were asked to maintain peace he will not deliver his lectures. The Governor himself had to call his hirelings to order before Mr. Emiefele could deliver his lecture.
What a way to show popularity to the world!
These events in the days leading to the unfortunate incident at the gate to the National Chairman residence may have triggered the kind of reactions that regrettably greeted the encounter at the gate of the National Chairman. It couldn’t have been a premeditated action as some state sponsored medium are tirelessly struggling to paint it.
The last time I checked the Governor is still the Chief Security Officer of Edo State. If all these attacks to several citizens and party members did not bother him all along, it therefore means that he condoned them because they were executed to advance his second term ambition.
I wasn’t surprised to hear him say he didn’t know things have degenerated to the extent he witnessed that day. Reason been that he probably didn’t feel the pulse of insecurity that has pervaded the polity on account of his intolerance of voices of dissent.
One can therefore safely submit that the fire of insecurity he stoke by directing his agents to attack all those holding meetings against his second term bid and which directive has been gradually gaining momentum were now spreading like a wide fire. What therefore is incompetence in taking charge of the security of the lives and property of Edo people? If a Governor choses who to protect and who to attack no further evidence is required to establish a gross misconduct against the provision of the Constitution which stipulates that the primary purpose of government is the protection of lives and property.
After the Iyamho incidence, the Governor amongst other things said he will continue to pursue peace. That he is just realising that peace is needed for him to govern well three years into his government is laughable. This is more so as he has refused peace moves brokered by some Governors months back after the shameful act of inauguration of the Edo State House of
Assembly at night with a minority of the elected members.
What then can one say of the burgeoning regime of political violence that has now engulfed the state on account of the second term ambition of the Governor. I once posited that if the Governor kills everyone, there will no one left to vote for him
He must take responsibility for the ugly incidences of violence been perpetrated by his agents across the State and cannot pretend that he is just knowing that it has assumed a frightening dimension.