Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has raised the alarm over the rising tension in the state following alleged brutality unleashed on the people by troops at the instance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during last Saturday’s botched National Assembly elections.
But a group sympathetic to the PDP in the state, Edo Youth Vanguard (EYV), has accused the governor of training and camping 600 youths at Okpujie Primary School, Uromi, to be used as thugs ahead of this Saturday’s rescheduled elections. Addressing journalists Tuesday in Benin City, the governor said as the chief security officer of the state, it was his duty to appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan clearly and promptly about the dangers posed to the Nigerian Army and the nation, should the troops continue to provoke and humiliate citizens of the state on behalf of a political party.
According to Oshiomhole, by the early hours of Saturday, the troops had been unleashed on leaders and members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ordinary voters and members of the public across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He added that the conduct of the officers and men in various places strongly indicated that their operational order was not to give effect to the president’s resolve to provide adequate security during the elections.
He said rather, the army actively executed the bidding of the PDP, as the various contingents were allegedly deployed to harass ACN leaders and members in order to pave the way for the rigging of the elections.
He alleged that in Owan West and East, Edo North, PDP thugs, including those hired from neighbouring states wore special red and yellow arm bands, which became symbols of immunity even in the face of premeditated violence they unleashed. He said the pre-agreed colours allow PDP thugs easy passage.
The governor also disclosed that several innocent persons and voters were rounded up in eateries, on the streets and in voting centres in Edo Central for no reasons, while in Edo South, many ACN leaders had abandoned their homes based on reports that they were to be arrested and bundled to Abuja.
In contrast, Oshiomhole said in Akoko-Edo, the army left off the hook, even without interrogation, well armed PDP thugs brought in from the Niger Delta who had been apprehended by the youths and handed over to the military patrol teams.
He also alleged that thugs allegedly arranged by two PDP senatorial candidate paraded the streets and shot at ACN leaders, including one Andrew Osigwe, yet no arrest was made by the army or the police.
Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen Tuesday in Uromi after its emergency meeting, National Coordinator of the EYV, Mr. Mathew Idemudia, said ACN’s alleged recruitment of thugs was worrisome as the Federal Government had done everything humanly possible to see that this year’s election was devoid of rancour and acrimony following the review of the Electoral Act and the promise by Jonathan to allow a conducive environment for free and fair election.
Idemudia alleged that the inducement of Esan Youths Coalition (EYC) with N60,000 each to the 600 members amounted to N36 million, adding that the amount was taken from the local governments’ funds for developmental projects.
He said four members of the Esan Youth Coalition (EYC), who rushed to the secretariat of EYV to report the incident, said arrangements had been concluded to recruit additional 500 youths to the existing 600, adding that residents of Uromi who watched the parade were scared at such number of youths few days before the general elections.
In Umuahia, the Abia State government has condemned a report in a national newspaper that election materials meant for the botched National Assembly elections in the state last weekend, were allegedly taken to the Government House by the State Resident Electoral Commission (REC) , Mr. Austin Okojie.
A statement issued in Umuahia Tuesday and signed by Mr. Kingsley Emereuwa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Theodore Orji, described the report as routine falsehood, wondering if the newspaper had its “usual” invisible “reporters” in the Government House “when the materials were brought in”.
Maintaining that it was glaring that the report emanated from the political enemies of the state governor, the statement noted that “it is laughable that the same man who has never visited the Government House since he assumed duties would suddenly divert materials meant for elections to the same Government House”.
While advising the general public to disregard the report, it stated that “It is common knowledge that the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia, Barrister Austin Okojie, since he assumed duties in the state had even neglected simple courtesies of paying official visit to the sitting governor.
“And when he was confronted by newsmen on that unusual development, he said it was the directive given by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that RECs are banned from paying courtesy calls on state governors,” Orji said.
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