By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—EDO State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, has described as laughable the statement credited to Governor Adams Oshiomhole through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, that he (Odubu) equipped thugs to disrupt and shoot at his security aides during the attack on him and his entourage in Auchi, weekend.

Odubu, who spoke at his meet-the-delegates-tour in Esan North-East and Esan South-East Local Government areas of the state, yesterday, said: “We have it on good authority that some people were given money not to come out to receive us. Even a mad man cannot equip persons to shoot him.

“The whole convoy of the deputy governor was the target. I have been the number one target. If not for the security men that shielded me and other supporters, it would have been a different thing.”

Police probe

Meanwhile, the state Police Command says it has set up a crack team to investigate the violence which erupted in Auchi, during Odubu’s visit to the secretariat of All Progressives Congress, APC, to meet with party delegates.

Also, one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of APC, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condemned what he described as dastardly, the attack on the deputy governor, saying it was not in the spirit of equity and fair play by which all the political gladiators should align.

Similarly, the Benin National Congress, BNC, has urged police to investigate the matter so as to ascertain whether it was actually an attack against the deputy governor or an attempt to tarnish the image of Governor Oshiomhole, who is from that area.

Dr. Odubu, who said power lies with the people, promised that creation of jobs would be his major priority amongst others, adding that a zero interest rate loan will be disbursed to women to help boost their trade if given the mandate, as he addressed a large crowd of delegates at Esan South-East and Esan North-East.

Meanwhile, Obaseki, in a statement in Benin, yesterday, called on security agencies to investigate the ugly incident thoroughly to unmask the culprits and expose their sponsors to ensure that they were brought to book.

He appealed to politicians to avoid comments and rhetoric that could encourage violence and to adopt a policy of non-violence.