Suspected thugs have allegedly attacked former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, erstwhile National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, raised the alarm on Tuesday.Tanko disclosed that armed thugs had shot at Obi and members of the movement during the formal defection of Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Benin City.
In a terse statement, he signed, tagged: “Breaking Red Alert in Benin, Edo State,” Tanko said: “PO and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State.“At the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress, armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
“They shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appears to be a survived assassination attempt on our lives. Democracy is in danger.”In photos and videos sent by Tanko, several SUV windscreens were smashed, while the gate leading to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence was riddled with bullets.
The alleged attack occurred during political activities surrounding the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata as an ADC member, heightening concerns about political tensions in the state
The incident comes barely a year after Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, warned Peter Obi not to come to the state again without security clearance.Obi visited Benin on July 7 and donated N15m million to St Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences for the completion of projects in the school.
But the governor condemned Obi’s visit to the state, insisting that his visit coincided with the resurgence of violence in the state.“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped N15 million. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed. For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance,” Okpebholo said.
“I am sending a direct message to him. There is a new sheriff in town. He cannot come to Edo without telling me, because his security will never be guaranteed.
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