From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, called for the arrest and prosecution of one Emmanuel Odigie for allegedly calling for military take over of government during an interview session with Arise Television.
The party in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, for the Governorship Campaign Council, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, JP, said the party and indeed Nigerians were concerned about the highly inflammable and inciting words the said Odigie used in his interview with Arise Television on Thursday August 15, 2024, especially his call for the military to take over of government from a democratically elected Federal Government of Nigeria.
“People are calling for the military and people are plotting how to truncate democracy, President Tinubu must be careful.” These were the exact words used by Odigie who from his activities so far, is obviously a security risk to our nation, the statement said.
Besides, the APC said Nigerians are also concerned about the reckless heinous plan by Odigie and his group to discredit the yet to be held September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
“More worrisome is the allegation that the presidency has concluded plans to rig the election in favour of Senator Monday Okpebholo. Odigie also claimed during his Arise interview, that “…some forces in the Presidency including Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila have perfected plans with some notable APC leaders in Edo State to rig the forthcoming September 21st Governorship Election in Edo State while President Tinubu will be on a disguised trip out of the country”, the party stated.
It said like a fly destined to follow a corpse into the grave, Odigie told his bewildered audience that, a so-called integrity group members were present in every meeting where these plans were held and quoted him as saying that “There is a plan to use the vice President, Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila to rig the election while the president will go on holidays. There is also a plan to use the police and DSS to intimidate the people we know all these things and too”.
The statement said “In the light of the danger that Mr. Emmanuel Odigie has become, the APC and indeed Nigerians are requesting for a thorough investigation of all his allegations – including those he made against the President and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Inspector General of Police.
“The arrest and prosecution of Emmanuel Odigie will thwart whatever plans his integrity group has put in place to distabilize Nigeria. It will go a long way to also ensure the sanctity of the ballot box in Nigeria, including the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State”.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, and the State Commissioner of Police to look into the case of some suspected rogue policemen from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja who are believed to have been paid huge sums by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to harass, attack and kidnap PDP chieftains across the three (3) senatorial districts of the State.
The party in a statement signed by the Deputy Director General Media and Publicity of Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Rev Olu Martins, alleged that “These suspected rogue mufti-wearing police officers led by CSP Ibrahim Angbasa, have been operating outside the scope of their job, carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, harassing and arresting PDP chieftains across the State.
“Since they began their sinister operations, they have arrested Hon. Kingsley Osahon, the Counselor Representing Ward 10, in Esan North East Local Government Area of the State, and a few other people who we currently don’t have their details.
“We are also aware that they have a long list of major PDP chieftains across the State’s three senatorial districts who they are planning to abduct for the political purpose of weakening the PDP ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election slated for September 21, 2024.
“Some names believed to be on this list include the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area (LGA), Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, among others whose identities have yet to be confirmed.
“We are calling on the Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 5, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies to step in and stop these harassments by this suspected band of rogue police operatives believed to be on illegal duty.
“The Edo State PDP is calling for a stop to all forms of intimidation and devious plots to silence our party leaders, as no amount of threat will hinder the defeat that awaits the APC in the September 21st governorship election”, the statement said.