*Govt wants Shaibu arrested

*I will operate from my house for now to avoid bloodshed— Shaibu

The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well as the Edo State Government, were yesterday engaged in blame games over last Wednesday violence involving some thugs and supporters of the reinstated deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Monday Okpebholo which led to the death of a police officer with others wounded.

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Following his reinstatement by a Federal High Court, Abuja, Comrade Shaibu arrived in Benin, the Edo State capital on Wednesday armed with the court order to resume duties as the Deputy Governor of the state and was joined at the airport by APC governorship candidate, Sen Okpebholo. But immediately their convoy left the airport premises, hell was let loose as there were gunshots everywhere and in the process, a police officer was gunned down with several others wounded.
APC calls for CP’s sack

In its reaction yesterday, the Edo State Chapter of the APC called for the sack of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, over the violence. Addressing journalists, the Media Consultant to the APC Campaign Council, Prince Kassim Afegbua said the call became necessary because the CP was around when the shootings were going on. He alleged that those who carried out the attack were acting on the instructions of some persons in the state.

According to him, “While the shootings were going on, the State Commissioner of Police was on ground at the Benin airport, he left through the entry gate instead of exit gate where the attack took place. He did nothing to repel the vicious attack which led to the death of one of his officers. From eye witness accounts, it is very clear that some of these hoodlums are members of the Edo Vigilante Network who were fully knitted in their uniforms.”

State Government reacts

The state government through the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie called on the police to arrest Shaibu and investigate him as they accused him of being the mastermind of the incident. While commiserating with the family of the deceased officer, the state government officials alleged that Shaibu was informed of an appeal filed for a stay of execution of the Federal High Court judgement but that he ignored it and wanted to force himself to the deputy governor’s office. They therefore called on the federal government to set up a special team to investigate the incident.

According to them, “The state commissioner of police had an intelligence report and went to the airport to caution him (Shaibu) not to allow his boys to assemble at the airport or anywhere in the state, but he defied the advice. We had appealed the judgment reinstating him as the deputy governor and filed a stay of execution immediately we got Certified True Copy (CTC) and he was shown the restraining order from the court. The CP should be arresting him because, as it stands today, he is not the deputy governor and has no immunity.”

PDP

Similarly, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi called for a thorough investigation into the violence. Addressing journalists he expressed worry over what he described as APC and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s desperation on the September 21 governorship election in Edo.

Shaibu to sue government officials

When confronted with the allegation that he master minded the attacks, Shiabu said he would institute a legal action against the government officials for defamation and contempt of court as he declared that he had resumed as the deputy governor but to avoid bloodshed, he would be operating from his house adding that he had already directed some of his aides to resume duty and that by next week, he would make fresh appointments.

“The judgment from the court is declarative, so I don’t know what they are saying. I have instructed my lawyers to sue them for defamation of character against me and contempt of court for disobeying a valid court order”, Shaibu said. He added that the certified true copy of the judgment was only available on Thursday afternoon and that the state government was not saying the truth when it claimed it had appealed the judgment and filed for a stay of execution on Wednesday.”
Police

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Folusho Adegboye, yesterday said the command was in possession of the names of some of those who carried out the act of violence at the exit gate of the Benin Airport. Adegboye said after thorough investigations of the names of those currently with the command, those who are found guilty would not be spared but be made to face the full wrath of the law.

He said “There was no intelligence report but all we could say is that there were a lot of supporters. Nobody gave an intelligence report that anything was going to happen. I was at the airport to see things for myself and with my men and to ensure that law and order was maintained. There was no single incident within the airport. People were dancing and were happy until they left the airport premises”.

On the deceased personnel, he said, “It is unfortunate we lost him. It is a very preventable issue. It is very avoidable. I want to appeal to all our gladiators, political actors, if we play the game according to the rules, the ugly incident would not have happened. This time around, I am talking to our political gladiators generally irrespective of party affiliations including their supporters.

On the court ruling that led to the clash, Adegboye said “It is not the duty of the police to say go and enforce the order. The court directs the Bailiff to enforce its judgments. It is the duty of the police to protect the Bailiff and the instructions will come from the appropriate quarters”, CP Adegboye added.