Adams Oshiomhole, national
chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused Mohammed Adamu,
inspector-general of police, of planning to set him up.
He made the allegation while
explaining his absence at the defection rally of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, governorship
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2016 election in Edo
state.
Ize-Iyamu had announced his
membership of the ruling party at his private residence based on the directive
of the IGP that a mega rally put together for the former PDP gubernatorial
candidate should not hold.
Adamu gave the order following
complaints by the Edo state government. Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo,
had visited the force headquarters where he told the police authorities that the
rally was “a mere disguise to disrupt public peace”.
The administration of Godwin
Obaseki, the governor, also placed a ban on political rallies in the state.
But speaking with reporters at
his residence in Benin city on Friday, Oshiomhole said he gathered that the
police wanted to put him in trouble.
“I saw that story planted by
government House in Edo that I was placed under house arrest. That is not true
I decided not to go to venue because the police in Edo and the IG want to set
me up and create a situation where they will kill people then they will
attribute it to me. I stayed away from the rally to avoid any form of
bloodshed,” Oshiomhole said.
“The leadership quality of a man
is tested under excessive provocation. If it was my old self, I will not only
go there but I will make speech that by now the battle line is drawn. As
National Chairman, I had to pay the price by abstaining from going there so
that I deny the IG and Edo Police Command to go and kill people and blame it on
me.
“I am embarrassed that the IGP
will write me a letter informing me on the strength of my application which I
informed him of our intention to do a rally. We informed police not for licence
so that they can earn their salary. It is not for them to grant permission.
“I thought as National Chairman,
I should be formal. I delivered the letter myself so that it can be more
personal.
“He conveyed to me that he has
directed the police to provide full security so that the exercise can have full
security. The IG knows the political value of Pastor Ize-Iyamhu joining us.
What I am not able to understand is how the same IG could be alleged to send a
letter to Philip Shaibu that the rally will not hold.”
Oshiomhole, however, said he was
happy that the rally held successfully and that the APC was poised to win
future elections in the state.
“I am from here and I have worked
with Pastor for which I am proud. It is a shame on Edo Police Command that
people in broad day light thought they can intimidated me from arriving Benin.
The police supervised and superintendent over this violence even as the IG has
given me a letter. As at that time no other letter has been issued,” he said.
“For police to claim they are
unable to secure the Airport road, as reporters, I ask you to explain what Edo
people went through yesterday. Benin was locked down just to oblige the Ddeputy
governor or the government of Edo State.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com