The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of masterminding the violence by suspected thugs which led to the death of a Police officer in Benin City, Edo State capital on Thursday July 18, 2024.
While expressing its condolences to the family of the bereaved, the Party urged the Police to investigate reports that the violence resulted from the reckless demonstration of force by thugs allegedly mobilized by the APC Governorship Candidate, Monday Okpebholo and some of his allies who are prominent politicians to accompany them from the Benin Airport in a show of force.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said this in a statement in Abuja, on Friday.
He said, “The PDP asserts that the rush by the APC to point accusing fingers on some agencies of the Edo State Government even before any investigation, exposes APC’s desperation to cover its complicity in the violence.
“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that the preponderance of pictorial and video evidence show that the groups and thugs at the vicinity of the attack were mobilized by the APC and the said prominent politicians, as evident in the boasting of the thugs before the unleashing of mayhem on innocent citizens.
“These pictorial and video evidence attest to the fact that no security agency of the Edo State
Government or group connected to the Edo State Government was at the vicinity of the attack and that the Government did not mobilize any group to the airport, its neighborhood or any part of the city at that material time.
“It is instructive to state that the only entities that would want to cause crisis and instill fear in the people ahead of the Edo State governorship election are the APC and its allying politicians who are frustrated that the APC has no prospect in the election given that it is stuck with an unqualified candidate.
“Our Party therefore demands that the Inspector General of Police immediately invite and question those whose agents and supporters were seen with thugs at the Benin Airport prior to the attack as evident in the said videos and pictures.
“The PDP also urges the Police to take every step necessary to ensure the sustenance of peace and order in Edo State, particularly in the face of the confirmed schemes and inclination by the APC to cause mayhem in the State.”
The PDP commended the people of Edo State for their vigilance and courage in resisting anti-people forces that are desperate to disrupt the peace in the State.
It also charged its supporters and the people of the State not to be deterred in their determination to rally round the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, whom the party said personifies their collective vision and aspiration for continued development of Edo State on the platform of the PDP.
“The PDP deeply commiserates with the Police and the family of the slain police officer adding that his death must not be in vain.” Ologunagba added.
