Eben Enasco
Human Rights Activist, Chief Patrick Eholor, is Challenging the Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu to demonstrate that the people who entrusted him with power should come first, amidst a hike in fuel pump prices ravaging citizens.
Eholor who is questioning the credibility of his position as the second in command in the state, wonders why some filling stations reportedly belonging to him, are in Business at the detriment of the people who he was voted to represent.
A statement released and authorized by the social crusader, in Benin City on Thursday, said he has become an object of attack by some featherweight elements who do not reflect inner cognition in the scheme of things.
In a publication in the Vanguard News Paper of May 3, 2023, Eholor only advised the deputy Governor to live by example.
His words: “Let me also use this opportunity to talk to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, he is my brother, he allegedly has numerous filling stations, and should live by example so that he can sell his petrol at the regulated and approved pump price so others would follow suit, and that will also give him the courage and strength of character to punish other people who violate the approved pump price of PMS”, he said.
According to Eholor, this was seen as a negative call-out by the deputy governor’s aides who resorted to openly abusing his person for charging their principal to lead aright.
Miffed by the action of the Conoil marketers, and other marketers, Chief Eholor believes that this should not be happening especially when the franchise allegedly belongs to Philip Shaibu who is still in service as deputy Governor.
Eholor is condemning all oil marketers who have taken advantage of the declaration of President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of subsidy petroleum removal and was reacting to a rejoinder to his earlier claims made by someone who described himself as a political evangelist.
Eholor is one man who has independently acted as a watchdog and applauded some policy decisions taken by the present administration of Obaseki that has direct effects on citizens.
In many of his criticisms of some policies of the government, most elites have thumbed up his actions and his boldness.
However, some saucepan food processors have taken to social media and other media spaces to attack and denigrate the name of Chief Eholor over his position on why the Deputy Governor must lead by example.
Eholor lamented that their action is not a surprise, Claiming, “it is genetic for them to abuse those who at an independent level stand a chance to defend the people”.
He recalled that, in September 2020, Marrian Shaibu the Wife of the Deputy Governor was captured in a video where she was heard threatening to flog any woman who goes against her husband’s ambition to oust the opposition party APC in the State.
He said, In the video where she spoke in pidgin English, she was heard requesting the pictures of all women who attended the draconian meeting with her, a development many frowned at, and brandishing her attitude as a cue from her husband.
He reflected on the situation at Airport Road and others, where the deputy governor had been alleged of being the owner of the Conoil franchise, selling way above the stipulated official rate of 189 naira despite being a major marketer.
Although, at various forums the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has denied owning any Franchise of the two Conoil Service Centers on Airport Road, Benin City.
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Ebomhiana Musa, said the Deputy Governor was not in any way connected to what he claimed was a false statement by destructive individuals.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had threatened recently in a statement released by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha to clamp down on oil marketers hoarding petrol in the state to create artificial scarcity and price hikes.
He cautioned oil marketers to avoid imposing threatening hardship on the citizens through the creation of artificial fuel scarcity in the state and threatned to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of any defaulting marketer.
This fit received applause from many across the state, including Chief Patrick Eholor, who sees it as the right step to send a clear message to erring persons.
The oil marketers had resorted to hoarding and hiking prices immediately President Bola Tinubu announced in his inaugural speech that fuel subsidy was over.
One such marketer is the Conoil filling stations across the metropolis allegedly owned by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
“Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration may not have done well in most critical areas with his policies, but not with the issues of some elements in his government subverting the will of the people to an extent.”
Chief Eholor vowed to remain in the truth and continue to speak truth into power, even though it hurts a lot.
