By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has told the people of the state to disregard the alleged claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the APC is using the police to harass and intimidate its members especially the notable members of the PDP in the state.
The APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Barr. Peter Uwadiae made the appeal while addressing Journalists in Benin City.
He said the APC as a party is not known for violence and that the recent incident at Uromi where a young man was said to have accused the PDP person to have been his supplier of arms simply exonerated the APC of violence act.
“The Edo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted over an allegations that the public and media space is a-washed with the baseless and unfounded allegations by the PDP of the arrest of its members by the police on the prompting and instigation of our party.
“The APC would not have reacted to these unsubstantiated and rude allegations in order not to dignify the PDP but this is profoundly done to set the record straight and to disabuse the intellectual minds of the curious Edo People.
“It must be stated emphatically that some weeks ago, a young man who was wickedly armed with gun was arrested in Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of the State.
“News had it that the said boy made starkly confessional statement that the gun was procured for him and his cohorts to fight their perceived political enemies particularly members of the APC.
“It is also in the public space that during interrogation of the said boy by the police, he gave names of his co-travellers who were on the run, some now been arrested by the police in their diligent pursuit of these alleged criminals, others still at large”, Uwadiae said.
Barr. Uwadiae said the APC is surprised that the police who ordinarily should have been commended for maintaining peace and orderliness in the state, have also been accused of taking side with the APC.
“The police who ordinarily should be commended by the PDP, the party in authority in the state, is now been castigated for carrying out their civic responsibility i.e. security of lives and property within the State.
“The PDP should condole itself for been insensitive to the insecurity which is very prevalent in the State. One wonders why the PDP should be worried that the police are diligently carrying out their duties in line with the core mandate of government.
“It is disturbing that the Governor of the State has been making inciting statements that bothers on treasonable felony when it was obvious from available evidence that members of his party allegedly shot and Killed a serving police officer Inspector Akoh Onu in their desperate attempt to assassinate the Governorship Candidate of our party, Distinguished Sen. Monday Okpebholo”, Uwadiae added.
Speaking further he said”we therefore use this medium to salute the police for the unwavering courage and profound determination to fish out those who are involved in this unholy crime so as to make the State safe for a free and fair election, come 21st of September, 2024.
“We also want to encourage the well informed Edo People to completely disregard the claim of the PDP of the arrest and harassment of its members, as our party is focused on the acts that shall promote transparency and free, fair and credible election in the State.
“We also use this medium to call on all security agencies in the State to be vigilant and operate above board in these trying times because a new Edo is rising where APC shall provide succor to the teeming Edo people”.