You Have No Right To Order My Arrest, Oshiomhole Fires Obaseki

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, hasd stated that his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki has no right to order his arrest.

Addressing journalists in Edosstate on Friday, the former Edo governor said the allegation made against him by Obaseki was ridiculous and baseless.

Recall that Obaseki had accused Oshiomhole of masterminding the demonstrations and violent protests in the state over the controversial naira swap policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN on Wednesday, but the former governor denied the allegation.

Addressing the allegation in a chat with reporters, Oshiomhole said it is only the Nigeria Police Force that can investigate anyone they deemed a person of interest and that if found wanting, they may be invited for questioning.

The APC Senatorial candidate in Edo North said he would be surprised if the police now collect orders from the governor.

He said: “When I read initially on social media… that Obaseki has ordered the police to arrest me, I had a very good laugh.

“First, because Obaseki doesn’t know that he doesn’t have the power to order the arrest of a citizen. And that’s the reason why some people have reservations about what people like Obaseki talk about state police.

“The police have not – and I would be surprised if they have now – generated to the level of taking orders from a politician who is faced with a crisis of confidence and the people are revolting against him.”

Oshiomhole revealed any governor must be able to win the hearts of his people and talk them out of bitterness, and above all, give them hope that the government will address their challenges.

He said: “A governor or a leader must be able to win the hearts of his people and talk them out of bitterness, and above all, give them hope that whatever are the challenges that they face, the government is in a position to do something about it. This is what the government should do.”

Oshiomhole noted that protests were part of democratic ideals, and denounced the riots that broke out across the state.

He added, “I believe Nigerians have a right to protest against anything that they are not happy about. But I also want Nigerians to understand that there’s a huge difference between protest and rioting.

“The problem of rioting is like shooting a gun into a market: you don’t know who it will hit. But when you peacefully decide to protest, that is what distinguishes a free people from slaves.”