24022020

48 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
:Vanguard vanguardnews News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
INAUGU-
RATION
From left:
Former Chief
Judge of the
Federation,
Justice Mahmud
Mohammed;
President,
Court of
Appeal, Justice
Zainab Bulkachuwa,
and
Gov. Ahmadu
Fintiri of
Adamawa,
during the
inauguration
of Court of
Appeal Complex
in Yola.
Oshiomhole, Obaseki's feud worsens, as APC
leaders differ on crisis
By Ozioruva Aliu
BENIN CITY — THE
crisis between the
National Chairman of the
All Progressives Congress
(APC), Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, and the governor
of Edo State, Godwin
Obaseki, seems unending,
despite the inauguration of
the Chief Bisi Akande-led
National Reconciliation
Committee which Obaseki
has accepted.
The latest development
was the incident at Benin
Airport on Saturday when
some youths suspected to
have been hired by agents
of government attempted to
stop Oshiomhole from entering
Benin City to attend
a burial party.
The youths said there was
a ban on Oshiomole coming
to the state without informing
the state government.
Although the state
government has denied involvement
in the incident,
two trucks, one marked with
Edo State on the driver and
passenger side doors but
with no number plate and
another unmarked, were
parked to block the two entry
points to Okoro-Otun
residence of Oshiomhole
yesterday morning.
Vanguard gathered from
sources that Obaseki said
Oshiomhole did not inform
the government about his
coming into the state and
that the vehicles were used
to obstruct entrance to his
house to prevent Oshiomhole
from holding political
meetings.
But Obaseki’s spokesman,
Crusoe Osagie, denied
the allegation, saying
the state government had
nothing to do with whatever
was happening at Oshiomhoe's
residence, even
though he did not inform
the government of his presence
in the state.
A statement he issued late
yesterday said the state
government would not be
held responsible for the consequences
of Oshiomhile’s
indiscretion and unruly behaviour.
He said: "On Saturday,
February 22, 2020,
there was sudden tension
in Benin metropolis which
resulted in large, unruly
crowds gathering in strategic
points and military personnel
shooting sporadically,
thrusting the city into
pandemonium.
"Suffice to say that the Edo
State government had absolutely
no idea that a
person of such public status
as a former governor of
the state was visiting.
"It is unfortunate that a
former governor who
should understand basic
security and protocol standards
will willfully and repeatedly
violate them and
cause tension and severe
threat to public safety and
security.''
He noted that a few
months ago, when Comrade
Oshiomhole caused
tension in the state due to
the same behaviour, the
state government had reported
formally to the Inspector
General of Police
and the Department of State
Services, DSS, about the
avoidable carnage, destruction
of property and severe
injuries to many persons as
well as general unrest
which resulted from Comrade
Oshiomhole's abuse of
protocol and his penchant
for crisis and violence.
"We, however, want to
warn that since Oshiomhole
has decided to carry
on with his character of impunity,
disrespect for processes
and continuous stirring
of crisis and disruption
of peace in the state, Edo
State government would
not be responsible when he
reaps the consequences of
his unruly behaviour."
But Vanguard gathered
late yesterday that supporters
of Oshiomhole have
been disposed to peaceful
settlement of the crisis but
their efforts seemed to have
hit a brickwall. It was
gathered that a former deputy
governor had met with
and advised the deputy
governor on the need to
bring an end to the crisis.
Vanguard also learned
that the deputy governor
agreed on the need for the
meeting and fixed a day for
them to meet in Abuja.
A source told Vanguard
that as preparation for the
meeting was ongoing, the
former deputy governor
was shocked with the breaking
news of the deputy
handing down threat of arrest
and prosecution of
Oshiomhole to the media.
It was gathered that that
action automatically led to
cancellation of the meeting.
Speaking on the crisis in the
party in the state, Oshiomhole's
deputy for eight
years, Dr Pius Odubu, in a
chat with Vanguard, said:
“There is no crisis in Edo
APC, rather what we have
is misunderstanding arising
from the activities and
conduct of Governor Godwin
Obaseki. Mr.Obaseki
from the onset came with
the notion that leadership
of APC in Edo State should
be retired.“ “Leadership in
political environment is not
an appointed one, it
evolves from the various
constituencies overtime.
Therefore, nobody has the
right or the power to say he
is retiring anybody from
active politics.
''The governor’s disdain
for politicians had manifested
in his utmost disrespect
for the political class. The
leaders are not being consulted
or carried along and
people who worked for him
were neglected.
''This gave rise to the misunderstanding,
contrary to
the governor’s claim that
the misunderstanding
arose from the national
chairman wanting to be
godfather. This is far from
it, as Comrade Oshiomhole
has never at any time in the
political activities in Edo
State wanted to be a godfather.
''I can also say he has not
interfered in the business of
governance in the state.
When this misunderstanding
was brewing, Comrade
Oshiomhole called the
leaders and the governor to
a roundtable to sort things
out, not once, not twice.
''The leaders always
showed up but the governor
never honoured any of
the invitations. That is
what created the situation
we are in today. It is
certainly not the
interference of Oshiomhole
in governance or politics
of Edo State.
''Instead, it is the refusal
of the governor to carry
along the party leadership
and leaders who worked
assiduously for his victory.”“
Another chieftain of
the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-
Iyamu, said the governor
has not showed interest in
the recent spate of attacks
on members of the party,
the recent being the explosion
on the residence of the
Secretary of the party,
Lawrence Okah.
He also expressed shock
that the Police were yet to
make any arrest after several
attacks on members
and leaders of the party.
He said: “They went to
Chief Inegbeki's house and
threw a bomb there. Who
will go and throw a bomb
in his own house because
they want to do mischief?
Chief Inegbeneki’s offence
was that he was coordinating
a rally in his hometown
in Irrua. Lawrence Okah
has been the subject of a lot
of attack and attention.
“People like us have tried
to engage them, all we get
are insults. Our desire for
peace is not a sign of weakness.
This rubbish must
stop. They must call their
people to order. This is not
the work of robbers. Armed
robbers cannot throw bomb
and walk away.
''This was politically motivated.
Lawrence Okah is
Secretary of this party. You
cannot force him to do your
bidding. If you want him to
work for you, you must submit
yourself to the party.
"We will continue to call
on our people to maintain
peace. If we want to retaliate,
this city will be turned
into a war zone. It is time
the security agencies start
to make arrests. But a
former Political Adviser to
Oshiomhole as governor,
Charles Idahosa, said
Oshiomhole should step
down as the chairman of the
party, saying he was responsible
for the crisis in
If you must beg, beg govt,
not individuals, Sanusi tells
beggars
By Ibrahim Hassan
DUTSE — THE Emir
of Kano, Muhammadu
Sanusi II, weekend,
called on people who beg
for alms or other forms of
assistance from individuals
and relatives to instead direct
their begging to the
government.
News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) reports that Sanusi
made the call at the National
Conference on Alarammomi
(Qur’anic Teachers) organised
by Centre for
Qur’anic Reciters in Nigeria
with the theme: “Sanitising
Almajirchi In Tune
With Today’s Realities”.
He urged parents to stop
sending their children to
Almajiri schools, stressing
that children could study
the Qur’an, in their schools
and with the teachers in
their respective communities.
The emir said that if sending
children to such schools
became necessary, then
parents must send them
with all the necessary provisions
to ensure their well
being and welfare.
According to him, it is
wrong for parents to send
their children away without
proper arrangements and
necessary provision, as the
children will end up begging
for food and alms.
Sanusi, who quoted verses
from the Holy Qur’an
and Hadith, said whoever
begs, would resurrect on
the day of judgement without
flesh on his face.
He, therefore, urged husbands
to see it as God-given
duty to feed their wives
and children adequately in
order for them not to resort
to begging for alms and
assistance from individuals
or relatives.
“Begging is disallowed in
Islam and if you must beg
for alms beg the government
not individuals or relatives.
“It is better for you
to cut firewood and sell to
earn a living than to beg.
“Those who beg or seek
assistance from individuals
will be resurrected on the
day of judgement without
meat/flesh on their faces.
“And if you must beg,
then beg the government
not individuals or relatives.
This is because they should
be responsible for the welfare
and wellbeing of citizens.
We didn’t arrest anybody with
fireams, says Edo CP, Jimeta
•We have nothing to do
with booing of Oshiomhole
in Benin – Edo govt
THE Commissioner of
Police in Edo State,
Lawal Jimeta, yesterday
denied reports that its men
arrested three persons with
firearms, following the alleged
attack on the national
chairman of All Progress
Congress, APC, Adams
Oshiomhole.
Faction of the party loyal
to the national chairman in
the state had alleged last
night that thugs and cultists
allegedly mobilized by
Edo State government to
attack Oshiomhole at the
Benin Airport were arrested
by the police.
But reacting to the allegation,
the CP said he was
not aware of any arrest,
stressing that his men only
provided security for the
APC national chairman to
all the functions he attended
in the state until he returned
to Abuja.
Oshiomhole’s loyalists
said: ‘’The Police have confirmed
the arrest of three
persons with firearms and
intent to cause bodily harm
to the national chairman.
‘’The arrest came after the
Police Commissioner in
Edo State came under scrutiny
and received several
distress calls from civil society
groups bemoaning
the perceived bias of the
Police as some officers were
spotted providing cover to
some of the armed thugs
who forced their way into
the airport, breaching protocol
and causing panic to
other travelers.
‘’Tension rose in the state
when government-registered
buses were seen allegedly
conveying thugs
and other criminal elements
to the airport to deny entry
to Oshiomhole who was
scheduled to land and proceed
to events where his
presence was sought.
‘’According to inside
sources, the thugs were
personally summoned by
the Deputy Governor, Philip
Shaibu, and the buses
and other logistics used in
conveying them from different
points in Benin City to
the airport were provided
by the Secretary to the State
Government, Osarodion
Ogie.
Also reacting to the allegation
last night, Edo State
government said it had
nothing to do with any alleged
attack on Oshiomhole,
saying it didn’t also
arm anybody to attack him.
In a statement, Special
Adviser to the Governor on
Media and Communication
Strategy, Mr. Crusoe
Osagie, said: “It has come
to our notice that Comrade
Oshiomhole arrived Benin
and was booed by a crowd
of people.
‘’We are not in anyway
directly or remotely involved
in the act. We condemn
insinuations that the
Edo State Government is in
anyway involved in these
protests. “The series of anti-
Oshiomhole protests across
the country in the last couple
of days, including the
those who jeered and
booed Comrade Oshiomhole
in Benin City, on Saturday
have nothing to do
with the state government.