Edo APC: Obaseki trying to strangulate opposition – but we’ll resist him

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo has accused Godwin Obaseki, the state governor, of trying to strangulate opposition parties.

In a petition to Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP) and the senate committee on police, Jarrett Tenebe, chairman of the APC in Edo, said Obaseki would be resisted.

Tenebe said the IGP and the committee should ask the governor to stop using the state’s security apparatus to oppress opposition parties to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“I am the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Edo state chapter and have the honour and privilege to bring to your attention the high level of intimidation and harassment orchestrated by the Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki,” he said.

“While it’s safe under the Freedom of information Act that anyone who feels dissatisfied with any policy implementation of the government at any level can ask questions about the same, Edo state governor does not see to the effectiveness of any opposition to his government policies.

“To make good his threat of strangulating any opposition, he deploys all forms of security apparatus within the state both conventional and self created, to carry out his vindictiveness.

“He has promised to deal mercilessly with any person who dares him particularly at this time of our electioneering in the state. Against the backdrop of the aforesaid, he has deployed the office of the commissioner of police to cause my arrest just for political reasons.

“I have been informed at my party secretariat that in my absence, police brought an invitation for me to be interviewed by the commissioner of police over a petition written against me by the governor.

“Information at my disposal is that the governor has ordered the police to lay siege at my party secretariat where we are to perform the inauguration of our campaign council tomorrow with a view to arresting me just to score a political point.

“I thereby solicit your timely intervention by transferring the said case if any to your office for a discreet investigation. I count on your esteemed office in doing justice to this unwarranted harassment.”