Benin, Edo, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho
As investigations into the gruesome attack on Hon. Rasaq Momoh continue, Edo State Government has condemned in very strong terms what it described as the attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to drag the name of Governor Adams Oshiomhole into the unfortunate incident.
Rasaq Momoh, a member of the PDP caucus of Edo State House of Assembly was brutally attacked on Tuesday night at the State Legislators’ Quarters in Benin City, Edo State.
The PDP Leadership in the state had swiftly accused the governor of connection to the incident, alleging that forces loyal to him carried out the attack which was reported by Alltimepost.com on Wednesday October 8, 2014.
Contrarily, Edo state government in a statement yesterday signed by Prince Kassim Afegbua, Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to the Governor, said rather than accuse the Governor, the PDP should look inwards for the assailants.
“We wonder what Rasaq Momoh was doing at the Legislators’ Quarters at about 11:00pm when he has been ejected from the place. It is curious that Rasaq Momoh, a supposed “honourable” member had to scale the fence to gain access to the quarters, in company of some of his thugs, because the gates had been locked. That act in itself portrays a sinister motive,” the statement said.
“We recall that as a member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Rasaq Momoh was arrested by a team of Operation Thunderstorm in April, 2013 for unlawful possession of firearms during the Local Government elections in the state.”
According to the statement: “Even as a member of the ruling party, the Governor insisted that the full weight of the law must be brought to bear on the offender and he was duly charged to court, a case which is still pending in Court. If anything, Rasaq Momoh’s grouse was the refusal of the Governor, Comrade Adams Eric Oshiomhole to shield him from prosecution which precipitated his eventual defection to the PDP in search for cover.”
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, according to the statement does not have a history of violence in all his struggles in Nigeria both as a labour activist and as an elected Governor of Edo State.
The government rather accused PDP of having a long history of violence in the state and beyond, adding “We recall with painful nostalgia how three members of the then ACN: Hon Philip Shaibu, Hon Johnson Oghuma and Hon Kabiru Adjotor were macheted and axed by “Honourable” members of the PDP on the floor of the Edo State House of Assembly four years ago.
Till date, those who carried out the dastardly act are still walking the streets of Benin under the full protection of PDP godfathers.
In fact, the impeached Speaker of the Assembly at the time, Hon Zakawanu Garuba has been rewarded with an appointment as a Commissioner in the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) for his role in the saga.”
Continuing it said: “Only two weeks ago, we all watched with helpless amazement the visit of terror on the judiciary in Ekiti by PDP thugs who are no doubt sympathetic to the Governor-elect in that state. Till date, no one has been brought to book for the desecration of the sacred altar of justice.”
“We wish to state that the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Eric Oshiomhole, cannot be intimidated by the deliberate and well-calculated attempts by the PDP and their godfathers to visit terror on their member, blame a third party and thereby make the state ungovernable in order to realize their selfish political agenda.
We have, over the years, become very familiar with PDP’s crude plots and shenanigans aimed at distracting the working Governor of Edo State but like a Government that enjoys the mandate of the people, we will remain undaunted in our resolve to take Edo State to the next level,” the statement assured.
