EDO ACN: NO SECRET AGENDA 'LL DISTRACT OSHIOMHOLE

In spite of recent security challenges, Edo State Government said yesterday it would continue to secure lives and property. The state government decried insinuation by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it was not doing enough.

The ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is pointing accusing fingers at the opposition parties for the recent accident involving the convoy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole which claimed the lives of three journalists and the murder of his aide, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde in the deceased's residence in GRA, Benin recently.

Oshiomhole's Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lamented that Comrade Oyerinde is a 'harmless, urbane person who would not hurt a fly.'

The ACN was reacting to reports by the PDP urging 'Oshiomhole to ensure security of lives and properties in Edo State.'

To this, it accused the 'state PDP of a secret agenda to create an atmosphere of insecurity and blame the state government for it and deceive the people for their votes', saying no amount schemings would distract the governor.

The governorship election comes up on July 14.
According to the statement, 'part of the strategy of Edo PDP is to use the media to equally create a pseudo atmosphere of insecurity in the minds of the people as a report sought to serve.  It is not true that Edo State ranks highest in cult activities and violent crimes. Can the case of Edo State be compared to Boko Haram-ravaged states of Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Niger and the rest, all PDP controlled states?

'It is, however, noteworthy that the ACN government in Edo has on its part, offered more jobs than any PDP governor in the country this past three and half years given its relatively small resources.  In some PDP-controlled states, there is even an embargo on employment, but thousands of youths, even non-natives had been offered employment by the Edo State Government ably led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

'We have informed the Police High Command to carry out a thorough investigation into the Comrade Governor's convoy crash in which he escaped elimination.  The killing of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, his Principal Private Secretary came exactly six days after Oshiomhole's convoy was attacked along Warrake-Auchi Road, by a truck that curiously veered of its track and headed straight for the Governor's staff car, missing it by the whiskers.  Three journalists were killed, while others including security details, sustained various degrees of injury.  The dead were being removed from the mangled vehicles, and had not reached the hospital when the airwaves were hit with PDP's condolence messages to the state government, which meant that it was a pre-determined message.

'Not too long ago, a member of the state of House of Assembly and a chieftain of the ACN, Johnson Oghuma, was attacked by gunmen.  Oghuma, who represents Etsako Central, had his car riddled with bullets, as he was on his way to Fugar, his hometown.

'On the PDP's claim, the ACN said: Adams Oshiomhole has provided more than all what all PDP governors that have served Edo State put together to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.  These were reported and the police authorities have continually shown gratitude, so one wonders where these allegations are coming from.  The Edo State Comrade Governor has provided hundreds of operational vehicles from 2008 till date, it has provided other support to cover communication gadgets, helmets and bullet proof vests among others.

'Now that the state government has settled down to deal with crime head on, Edo PDP has come up with another regime and tactics to create an atmosphere of insecurity.  Edo people cannot be intimidated by all these horrendous devices and would never submit to criminal gangs.  We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to call the PDP leaders to order', the statement added.