The Edo State Government has urged members of the general public to shun the planned political rally by the factional members of All Progressives Congress in the state.
Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy to the State Governor, in a statement signed by him and made available to newsmen in Benin City on Friday, urged the people to go about their lawful businesses and shun any action that would undermine public peace and safety.
The state government, however, warned that stiff penalties would be meted on any individual or group who flouted orders from security agencies and the government that unauthorized rallies in the name of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must not be held in any part of the state.
According to him, there were clandestine plans to hold a rally in Edo Central Senatorial District and that government warned those orchestrating the crisis to desist forthwith. This is as similar gatherings in the past had resulted in civil disturbances, disruption of peace, injuries on innocent citizens and destruction of property, which the Edo State Government would no longer tolerate, he said.
“The Edo State Chapter of the APC has neither authorized nor organized any rally. The plans of the dissident Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) to again disrupt the peace in the state in Edo Central Senatorial District is unauthorized and goes against the directives of the Nigerian Police Force and the state government,” he said.
He however, called on the Presidency and the Inspector- General of Police to call the suspended National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, to order.
He said the national chairman of the party should know that no one could be above the law of the land and that his ambition to be the ultimate godfather in Edo State was not worth the lives and safety of millions of Edo people.
Reacting to the state government’s directive, Chris Azebamwen, factional public secretary of the party in the state said the rally would hold as planned.
Azebamwen, however, called on party faithful and supporters to attend the rally en masse.
“The last time I checked my constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, it still guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of association and that right has not been abrogated.
“Under the prevailing circumstance, there is no evidence of a breakdown and order. And i do not see anywhere the state government is granted constitutional powers to regulate the activities of political parties,” he said.
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH & CHURCHILL OKORO, BENIN
