The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the suspension of the planned rally by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State loyal to National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
The IGP had earlier on Thursday granted approval for the rally scheduled for Friday.
In a letter addressed to the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, in response to the application by the State Government to suspend the rally for security reasons, the IGP directed the Commissioner of Police in Edo State to ensure that the planned rally is suspended.
The letter entitled, “Re: Request to stop the purported All Progressives Congress (APC) Rally in Benin City, Edo State”, reads: “I am directed by the Inspector General of Police to convey his warmest regards and to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency letter ODG.134/59 of December 12, 2019 on the above underlined subject.”
The letter, dated December 12, was signed by ACP Idowu Owohunwa, Principal Staff Officer to the IGP.
Reacting, Shaibu, who is acting in the absence of Governor Godwin Obaseki – currently in President Muhammadu Buhari’s entourage to Egypt – said: “I had to write as the chief security officer of the state to let him know the situation in Edo State and to also inform him in line with the party’s constitution, the governor is the leader of the party.
“And if the governor that is the leader of the party and the party that he leads wants to do a rally in his own state and he has not authorized it and he is not aware, such rally cannot take.
“Also to inform him that that national chairman suspended from the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, does not have the locus to preside even an issue that concerns APC as we speak.
“So, the man that must give voice to whatever in APC in terms of governance enshrined in the Constitution is the leader of the party in the state, that is the governor.
“So I have the letter, the IG has responded to me that based on security situation that I have highlighted, that he has directed the commissioner of police to put all security in place to suspend that planned rally by these people.”
APC: Oyegun takes shot at Oshimhole over Obaseki
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun, on Thursday spoke on the crisis rocking his party in Edo, describing it as “tragic and unfortunate”.
NAN reports that Oyegun, who was first Executive Governor of Edo, spoke with newsmen on the sideline of the 22nd investiture of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in Lagos.
Oyegun said that the rift between Gov. Godwin Obaseki and APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, brought to fore the dangers of godfatherism in the nation’s politics.
“When principles are involved in an argument, it is very hard to wade in, especially expecting that one party surrenders principle to another.
“It is a good thing to mentor somebody, to have an elder, more experienced to help bring up the younger one.
“But when you have mentored him, and he has attained maturity and growth, do not keep treating him like a child,” Oyegun said.
He, however, revealed that efforts were ongoing to address the matter and bring peace to the party’s affairs of the state.
Oyegun lauded the performance of the state governor and reiterated his support for the great stride the state was recording.
