Thugs suspected to be loyal to the two main political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday clashed at the entrance to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, following the visit of the South-south PDP governors to the palace.
The clash was said to have occurred immediately after the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, left the palace with other state governors, who paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin ahead of the flag-off of the party’s governorship campaign in Benin City.
While the fracas lasted, gunshots were fire into air as scores of people on both sides were reported to have sustained varying degrees of injuries, raising fresh concerns as to what to expect during the thick of election campaigns, as well as the September 19 governorship election in the state.
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Reacting to the clash, Saturday, Edo State Media Campaign Council of the APC for the governorship election accused Obaseki and the PDP of unleashing violence on the people in Benin City.
The Council alleged that the governor asked thugs to retaliate the public booing he got on his arrival at the venue as various chants rents the air.
“It is sad that Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing governor of Edo State, has, today, Saturday, July 25, displayed the same traits of intolerance and penchant for violence that made the people of Edo State unanimously reject him”, the statement said.
“Booed by the people at the entrance of the palace of our great Oba of Benin for handing the state to the PDP tax collectors who are unconscionably feasting on our collective patrimony, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, as an act of revenge, instructed the thugs and cultists he has spent the past few weeks recruiting in the State and beyond to attack the people with dangerous arms.”
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The clash triggered a blame game as the Edo state government also alleged that the attack on its guests, notably governors and other Very Important Persons (VIPs) at the Oba’s palace in Benin-City was sponsored by the APC to cause mayhem in the state.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie said: “We are appalled by the deployment of thugs to the sacred grounds of the Oba’s palace to harass guests who are in the state for the flag-off of Governor Obaseki’s campaign and had visited the palace to pay obeisance to His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin.
“While we respect the boundaries of politics as it relates to the palace, it is reprehensible that the APC, its candidate and their enablers would sponsor thugs to desecrate the palace, which is a clear case of desperation to score cheap points.
“This conduct is not a trait of Edo people and is condemned in the strongest possible terms, as we are courteous and welcoming to guests. It is obvious that these persons were mobilised for this task by those who have no regard for the palace nor want the progress and development of the state.”
