A two time gubernatorial apsirant in Edo state and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) High Chief Jacob Idinye has strongly condemned the clampdown on the leaders of his party (PDP) as the state prepares for guber election on Saturday, September 21, 2024 which is less than 48 hours.
High Chief Idinye on Tuesday, September 19, 2024 made the remark at the Benin airport in a chat with some journalists, urging the security agencies to halt the indiscriminate arrest and allow peace to reign and make the election to be free, fair, transparent and credible.
He noted that no amount of intimidation, arrest, victimization and harassment would make the APC win the governorship election, stressing that the candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo is the best man for the Edo State top job.
The PDP chieftain added that the unlawful arrest was the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress even as he called on the heads of the Military, NSCDC, Police and DSS to be neutral, unbiased and act within the ambit of the law.
He said, “Many PDP leaders, including the Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Collins Aigbogun, were being kept in dungeons on the orders of the APC. Similarly on Thursday, in Etsako East Local Government Secretariat of our State, men of the DSS invaded the facility and made arrest of high profile members of our party. As I speak to you youths from the Etsako East are on rampage over the intimidation and harramennt meted on Engr D Dee ilugbekhai and many others.
“We also have on record from the PDP situation room that APC Branch of the Nigerian Police have arrested another popular politician simply known as O3 in Okpella.”
He continued, “Let the APC explain to us where our members and leaders are being taken to. They should also explain to the world why they not been charged in court since their arrest? Instead, the APC has been boasting of their plans to attack, intimidate, and harass PDP members and supporters.” Idinye demanded.
Idinye however called on the President of Nigeria to nip the ugly development in the bud to allow peace to triumph:
“It is our expectation that President Bola Tinubu will immediately order DSS personnel out of the Council headquarters to avoid the destruction of life and property in Etsako East Local Government, we dont want a situation where people will be forced to resort to self-defence by defending their fundamental human rights to vote in the Edo State Governorship election. We are known to be law abiding, therefore the government of the day must create an enabling environment to sustain that excellent virtues that our people are known for.
“Members of the APC are obviously intimated by the 8 years of excellent works of Governor Godwin Obaseki. We can all see the progress he made in infrastructure, human capital development, security, education of our children and his hands can also be felt in his technology-driven operations within the state’s civil service. Edo State public and civil service is number one in Nigeria. Obaseki has done well and I urge voters to make the right decision in the Saturday election to maintain this momentum and vote PDP.
“Electing leaders who lack experience and ideas could be disastrous for Edo state. Our candidate, Asue Ighodalo is a capable leader, who would continue Obaseki’s work, I appeal to voters to defend their votes to ensure Edo’s continued development. Asue Ighodalo is the best man for the job and by God’s grace he will record a landslide victory to the shame of opposition especially APC and LP.”
