Edo poll: APC, PDP clash over Police Inspector’s death

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State have engaged in a heated exchange of accusations following the death of Inspector Akor Onu in Benin City.

The PDP has called for an investigation into the APC and its governorship candidate for the September 21 election, Monday Okpebholo, alleging their involvement in the violence that led to the inspector’s death on July 18.

In response, APC governorship campaign spokesman Sebastine Ebhuomhan expressed surprise at the PDP’s sudden focus on the incident, suggesting that the PDP’s reaction is an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing police investigation. The APC emphasized the need for an impartial investigation and criticized the PDP for using the tragedy for political gain.

In his statement in Abuja yesterday, Ologunagba condemned APC leaders for giving scholarships to the children of the slain policeman, after allegedly orchestrating the violence that caused his death.

He said: “PDP maintains that APC leaders must not be allowed to hide under the guise of the scholarships to cover their complicity, manipulate and discourage the family of the slain police officer and the unsuspecting public from insisting on full investigation and prosecution of APC leaders implicated in the dastardly act.

“From their conduct, it is clear that the APC leaders have no value for human life and believe they can sweep the matter under the carpet and walk away from their crime.

“Our party restates its call on the Inspector General of Police to investigate with the preponderance of pictorial and video evidence, which show that thugs allegedly mobilised by the APC to escort its governorship candidate and other APC leaders from the Benin Airport into the city were responsible for the violence that claimed the life of the police officer.”

Reacting in a statement, APC governorship campaign spokesman in Edo State, Ebhuomhan, condemned the PDP national headquarters for attempting to sell ‘an ill-motivated afterthought’ to knowledgeable people of Edo State, saying PDP appeared to have suddenly woken up from slumber to try and distract police investigation into a killing that occurred weeks ago.

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“PDP statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, calling for the investigation of the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the party members over the death of the gallant Police Inspector Akor Onu is a calculated distraction to the investigation of the Edo State Police Command, ordered by the Inspector-General of Police. It should be condemned by all democratic and peace loving citizens.

“How long has it taken Ologunagba and his PDP at the Federal, Edo State and governorship campaign levels to formally admit to the murder of Onu? None of these authorities, including the state government, deemed it reasonable to even mention the death of Onu in their past statements, only to now come out with this bizarre statement three weeks after the murder.

“During the long time, the same desperate and violent Edo State government and PDP rushed an untruthful petition to the police as well as an unsigned, illegal advert to media organisations to blackmail selected APC leaders and members at airport on the day of the murder. Almost all the organisations that published that blackmail have since apologised. This shows the extent of the evil party called PDP.

“It is good that Okpebholo, characteristically, has not abandoned the family of his friend and protector, Onu, even in death, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki and his puppet, Mr. Akintunde Ighodalo, who often uses and dumps their helpers when they are still alive. Edo people are happy to hear that Okpebholo did not only visit Onu’s family, but also assumed the huge responsibilities the slain bread winner left behind.

“Lastly, PDP and Edo State Government need not distract police investigation of Onu’s murder; the evidence of how Obaseki’s Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and Edo State Public Work Volunteers (PUWOV) personnel murdered Onu and injured others is very clear.

“Those who shot and killed Onu have since taken refuge under Obaseki’s executive immunity after police invitation letters were served on them through the government. After all, everybody saw Obaseki threatening Edo State and Nigeria after receiving the letters.

“Okpebholo needs not remind anybody that Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Funsho Adegboye, was not far away when ESSN murdered Onu,” the APC governorship campaign spokesman alleged.