By Simon EBEGBULEM NKWOPARA, Benin City
PASTOR Roland Omorogbe, the father of the murdered House of Representative aspirant for Uhunmwonde/Orhionmwon Federal Constituency of Edo State, who was assassinated last weekend, yesterday, accused a lawmaker as being behind his son’s murder.

But in a swift reaction, the lawmaker who is aspiring for a second term in office debunked the allegation, saying that he had no reason to kill Oghogho Omorogbe who was a younger family relation.

Meantime, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ogbonaya Onovo had ordered that the case be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja , vowing to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastard act are brought to book. It would be recalled that the 36 year old Omorogbe was shot dead by suspected assassins last Saturday, few hours after he declared his intension to contest for the House of Representative seat in the forthcoming 2011 general elections under the Action Congress.

However, the father of the deceased, Pastor Omorogbe, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City shortly after he met with Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Kachi Udeoji, lamented that apart from the fact that yet to be identified persons killed his son, he and the widow of his son were being threatened.

His words: “I have told the Commissioner of Police and the Governor of the state, my prime suspect which I think I have a right to. The House of Representative member in our area is my prime suspect. But only recently, there is a new dimension to it. We have been receiving threat calls from all quarters. I suspect the lawmaker and I am sure the police can take it up from there.

“I had to relocate my son’s wife and the baby to some where else. I personally did not tell any body that I was coming to Benin . But I have received calls wanting to know my movement. My son told me that the incumbent called him and was asking him to step down and I advised him to go about his campaign in a peaceful manner.  And few days to that very incident, the incumbent called me and apparently because of the way I replied him, he changed topic and started discussing irrelevant issues.

“I have given the information to the police and I expect the police to take it up from there. I met the Governor and as a father he sympathized with me. But I am very surprised with the story credited to the AC Chairman in Edo state that he does not seem to know the face of my son. I think the best thing for him to have done, was to go the ward where my son comes from. There is no way he will know every body in his party. So I am disappointed with such a comment from Omoaghe” he stated.

But in a statement in Benin City , Osagie disclosed that his attention had been drawn to the rumour making the rounds in some quarters concerning the murder of Omorogbe to the effect that there are insinuations about his alleged involvement in the killing.

“I do not want to prejudice the police investigation in the matter but suffice to say that much as I join many others to condemn the killing, I Hon Samson Osagie has no reason whatsoever to plan the killing of anybody not to talk of Ayo who is until his death was a younger family relative”.

While sincerely sympathizing with the family, he further pointed out that he is completely innocent in the matter and urged the police to do everything and investigate all angles to the gruesome murder and bring the perpetrators to book. This spurious allegation is another tool being employed by my detractors to pull me down. By the grace of God I shall be vindicated”.