Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has raised alarm over the security situation in the state ahead of the upcoming election.
Speaking to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Obaseki expressed concerns about the conduct of the police and other security agencies, accusing them of actively participating in actions aimed at disrupting the election process.
Obaseki said, “You were here in 2020, and just like you rightly said, this is an off-cycle election – there’s a lot of attention. Unlike 2020, I am very worried because from the development – and where we are today – to sign the security pact. But the person who is supposed to enforce peace is now an active participant in creating a disruptive process.
“We had situations where, from the IG’s, armed men just came into Edo state to invade, arrest, and take away PDP members. As we speak, there is about ten in detention in Abuja without trial.
“Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairman. He was on his way home, attacked, and shot at. He reported that the police asked him to come give evidence but was arrested. As I speak, he is in Abuja.
“Even if offences were committed in Edo state, why would you not try them here? Why take them to Abuja. Are they offences of high treason? And why not even charge them to court in Abuja?”
Obaseki accused the police of undermining his authority as the state’s Chief Security Officer.
He recounted how he sought the intervention of the Edo State Commissioner of Police in one of the arrest cases, only for the commissioner to facilitate the suspect’s transfer to Abuja before dawn the following day.
“The police came in and obtained a warrant to arrest 60 PDP supporters. All these to drive all our leaders into hiding. So, for me, my role as the Chief Security Officer is being made nonsense of by the IG.
“I called the commissioner and let him look into it. He said he would get back to me. The next day, he moved him to Abuja before 4am. So, how can we sign a peace accord?
“Clearly, what we are seeing is that they want to have a violent election. They would use the forces of coercion and intimidation to win the election by hook and crook whether we like it or not. That’s the message.
“It’s why we say that everybody arrested is released or brought back to Edo to try them for whatever offence they have committed until we can do anything. We have no confidence that the police will protect us in this election.”
VANGUARD
