How We Escaped Assassination In Benin — Obi, Oyegun

Tension gripped Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, as 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun, and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, escaped attacks from gunmen.

Few minutes after leaders of the ADC, including Peter Obi received former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the LP Edo 2024 governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata into the party, gunmen attacked the facility at Ogbelaka Street, Off Sokponba Road, Benin City, and the residence of the party’s National Leader, Odigie-Oyegun.

Obi, narrating his ordeal, declared: “It is time to speak up. It is time those in government act. They are not going to be there forever. What they allowed to happen in the country today will take its revenge on all of us and the country.”

Eyewitnesses said the attackers, who arrived in an unmarked Sienna bus and on a motorcycle, fired several gunshots and vandalised party property, including chairs, canopies and banners. Some members reportedly sustained injuries.

Attack shifts to Oyegun’s residence
Not satisfied, the assailants reportedly proceeded to the residence of Odigie-Oyegun on Reservation Road, where more gunshots were heard and vehicles parked near the gate were riddled with bullets.

A video circulating online showed damaged vehicles and a gate perforated with bullet holes.

Speaking in the video, Obi said: “This is a former governor of the state(Odigie-Oyegun). You can see what happened in front of his house where hoodlums came, shooting.Look at the gate, see the bullet holes at the gate, several cars damaged. That is where our democracy has reached.”

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, alleged that the attackers trailed the leaders from the secretariat.

“The leadership of the ADC is under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. Armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun and shot at the gate, destroying several vehicles,” he said.

We got intelligence — Oyegun
Speaking to journalists, Odigie-Oyegun warned that the development could trigger chaos if not checked.
“I am afraid that our leaders, both at the centre and in this state, are playing with fire. The consequences could be terrible, much more than any of you expect,” he said.

According to him, the meeting at the secretariat was duly scheduled when they received a security alert.
“Halfway through the proceedings, we got intelligence report certainly from one of the security agencies that they have information that the place is going to be attacked, so we should please try to wind up.

“You can’t ignore information. So we cut short our proceedings and I think we were just barely lucky to have left there in time because thereafter it looked like all hell broke loose. People arrived here in about 10 vehicles shooting all over the place… People were injured.”

He questioned the absence of coordinated security response.

“There was no cooperation, coordination between the security agencies such that that venue at least will get emergency protection. People were able to come in so many vehicles, shoot their way, break into the building… and go away. And this is a state where we have a governor and where the first duty of any government is to protect us?”

On the attack on his home, he added: “We had a guest… the former governor of Anambra and one of the prominent leaders of the ADC. From all indications, an aspirant.

“The government here had threatened that if he came to Edo State without permission, his security cannot be guaranteed. He was paying a courtesy visit to me and bullets started raining all over the place… When did we degenerate to that kind of level?”

ADC alleges APC involvement
Edo State Chairman of ADC, Kennedy Odion, accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of masterminding the attack.

“We heard APC was coming to attack us. We quickly cut short the event and ended the programme. Few minutes after we ended, we heard thugs stormed the venue. They injured three people… After they scattered the place, they came to Oyegun’s house where we were having another meeting. All the vehicles parked outside were destroyed.”

“Myself, Peter Obi, Senator Owie and Oyegun have left the venue when we heard about the thugs’ attack. They injured three people. ”

“We have reported the matter and the Commissioner of Police came to see the level of damage that has been done. He assured them they will investigate. I told him not to allow this attack slide. Three persons were injured. The vehicles destroyed were many.”

He said the Commissioner of Police visited the scene and promised investigation.

Edo govt, APC deny complicity

However, Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, attributed the violence to internal crisis within the ADC.

“The crisis has been ongoing. Even yesterday, we had to use the police to quell the crisis… What happened was just the height of it.”

On allegations that Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier warned Obi against visiting Edo without permission , Afegbua said: “If Peter Obi had informed the governor that he was coming, what happened today would not have happened. The governor would have provided security for him… Thank God nothing happened to Peter Obi.”

Source: Vanguard

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com