Benin City’s residents along the ever busy Airport Road were thrown into undue confusion and hypertensive mood this afternoon following the entrance into the city by Hon. Philip Shaibu and some APC’s leaders in a bid to enforce a Federal High Court ruling that is being appealed by a party to the litigation.
In the ensuing Melee, wherein thugs loyal to the Hon. Philip Shaibu and the APC shot sporadically to cause fear and panic, many where injured and a purported security detail to the APC guber candidate, Senator Monday Okpepholo, lost his life. May his soul rests in peace. Amen.
Though we would leave much of this debilitating dramatic show or theatrics to the professional inquest of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, it does come to this great state and its hard working and sagacious citizens as bizarre and heart wrenching and an unfortunate incident. It stands to be condemned and it should be called its rightful name: barbaric, wanton and disgusting quest for power!
The PDP as a party is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and a law abiding entity. Therefore, any government formed or controlled by the PDP, being a creation of the constitution is a keeper of the law.
The PDP is aware that the said judgment of the Federal High Court yesterday is being appealed and a stay of execution has been filled with the appropriate court by a party in the litigation. We support such moves and enjoin all parties in the case to pursue justice in the constitutionally and legally recognized way.
We are not oblivious of plans by the APC in Edo State to cause confusion in the state ahead of the September 21st, 2024 gubernatorial election in order to rig their party into Osadebey Avenue. A move we urge all well meaning Edolites to rest and condemn.
This resort to brazen act of violence is not only a test of the purported ‘federal might’ the APC and its candidate had trumpeted around the nook and cranny of the state in recent weeks but a tactical demonstration of the ‘street might’ Hon. Philip Shaibu allegedly wields in the state.
Howbeit, the PDP as a party abhors all forms of violence. We regret the avoidable loss of human live. We also condole with the family of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.
We at this juncture call on well meaning Edolites and Nigerians to hold Hon. Philip Shaibu and the APC accountable for the violence that erupted in Benin City today and anytime in the foreseeable future. We are also using this medium to make a clarion call to all to join the PDP, Edo State, to condemn electoral violence in the Edo 2024 gubernatorial election. Election is not a do or die affair!
We, additionally, call on the voting populace in Edo State to vote in a competent, cerebral, credible, connected and character filled candidate that PDP is offering to the them in the coming elections. Vote #AsueOgie2024!
Long lives Edo State!
Long lives the PDP!
Ogie Vasco,
State Publicity Secretary, Edo.
18/07/2024.
PDP Edo State condemns Shaibu’s resort to violence
