By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—POLITICAL tension heightened in Edo State Sunday, as Governor Adams Oshiomhole raised an alarm over alleged order by the Minister of Defence, General Godwin Abbe, to withdraw the soldiers involved in the Joint Task Force (JTF), code named Operation Thunderstorm, which was earlier approved by President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The governor, who was visibly furious at the decision, appealed to the vice-president to call Gen.Abbe, Chief Tony Anenih and the Principal Secretary to the Vice-President, Chief Mike Oghiadohme, to order to avoid chaos in the state.

The governor alleged that the reason for the withdrawal was to enable the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) move arms and ammunition into Etsako Central local aovernment area for the House of Assembly re-run election scheduled for this weekend.

His words: “I have just been informed by the Army that General Godwin Abbe, the Minister of Defence, has ordered that the army should be withdrawn from the Joint Task Force, contrary to the directive of President Umaru Yar’Adua who approved the soldiers in the wake of the kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes in the state then.

“We are aware that it has been difficult for the PDP to move arms to Etsako Central due to the presence of the soldiers after they boasted to bring in militants to come and unleash mayhem during the election. Curiously, today, the Army has informed me of their withdrawal. It is very clear that General Abbe, in collaboration with Chief Tony Anenih and Oghiadohme, has decided to reverse the order of President Yar’Adua.

“ I have decided to raise this alarm  and I call on the vice-president to call Abbe and Anenih to order. I want to affirm that any attempt to cause crisis in Edo State will be resisted by the people. I am very worried that with the withdrawal of the soldiers, there will be influx of arms into Etsako Central and that will endanger the lives of our people there during the election.”

“ I have alerted the Vice-President before about the activities of Oghiadohme who has been boasting that they will use Federal Might to rig the election. There is grave danger and I appeal to the Vice-President to call these people to order now” he asserted.