Oshiomhole vs Obaseki: Edo Dep. Gov. Makes Strong Allegation Against APC Chairman

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu has accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, of organising thugs to attack Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Naija News recalls that thugs attacked the convoy of Governor Obaseki, Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu and the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu at Iyamoh the country home of  Oshiomole.

The Pro-Chancellor of Edo University, Iyahmo, Prof. T.O.K Audu was also in the convoy.

It was gathered that the youths carried out the attack in retaliation to an alleged attack on Oshiomhole’s Benin City home.

The youths attacked the convoy after sighting the man alleged to have led the attack on Oshiomole home, Andrew Momodu.

Obaseki, Oba Akiolu, Audu and other guests had attended the maiden convocation ceremony of the Edo University, Iyahmo, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was gathered that the Oba of Lagos alongside Obaseki were on their way to honour a lunch invitation at Oshiomhole’s house when the youths descended on their convoy.

Speaking on the attack, Oshiomhole had insisted that the Deputy Governor mobilized over 200 commercial motorcycle riders (Okada riders) and thugs to the venue of the convocation of the Edo University, Iyamho to embarrass him and his guests.

But reacting in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, on Monday night, Shaibu denied allegations by the former Edo State governor.

Shaibu, a former loyalist of the APC Chairman, Oshiomhole to be courageous enough to own up.

The deputy governor said Oshiomhole’s accusation by itself was contradictory in the sense that it alluded to the rising reception that greeted Governor Godwin Obaseki by the youths of Etsako West on his arrival at Iyamho, the previous day on Friday, 1st November 2019.

According to the statement, “The Deputy Governor was himself a victim of the Saturday attack, considering the fact that he was actually in the same bus with the Governor, Oba of Lagos and other dignitaries.

“The simple truth is that the national chairman felt offended and intimidated by the huge crowd of party youths that came out in solidarity with the Governor. He then decided to “teach” the Governor and his Deputy a lesson by organizing those misguided elements to take up arms against the state.

“I see this as clearly a case of entrapment because the national chairman invited them to his house knowing very well that he had prepared for them, an attack by his political infantry as the statement dished out at the Sunday press conference did not add up.

“It is a pity that our national chairman now sees okada riders as thugs considering the fact that these were the same people who were in the vanguard of his struggle to reclaim his stolen mandate. He rode on their backs to judicial victory in 2007/2008.

“How come that the fighters of justice are now being labelled as thugs by no other person than the SOLE beneficiary of their struggle. So, position can really change a man?

“The Deputy Governor is a man of peace and honour who has never been associated with thuggery or merchants of violence. As much as I would not want to banter words with our highly respected national chairman. Nigerians know better between him and Edo State Deputy Governor who has thugs as associates, fondly referred to by him as ‘my infantry division’.”