News
PDP chair abduction: Edo govt beefs up security, condemns incident
Following the abduction of the Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, the state government stated that it had increased and beefed up security across the state to rescue the abductee from his captors unharmed.
The state chairman of the party was kidnapped by armed men on Friday evening at the entrance to his house after a meeting with Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House.
Reacting to the incident, the state government, in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City, said it was on top of the unfortunate kidnapping of the party’s chairman.
The statement, signed by Chris Nehikhare, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, added that the state government was working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe release of the chairman and his return to his family.
According to him, “We have also increased surveillance and beefed up security measures across the state to ensure that these criminal activities are quelled and the culprits are brought to justice.
“We encourage residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the state emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs.
“The government reassures that it is committed to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents and will spare no resources in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the abduction of the PDP chairman.
A statement by the acting state chairman of the party, Jarrett Tenebe, also demanded his immediate release by the abductors.
Tenebe, who said the party received the abduction of his PDP counterpart with rude shock, attributed the incident to the lack of a strong and well-oiled security architecture in the state.
“This kidnapping is one too many in the state, which serves as an overt reminder and wake-up call to the Governor Obaseki-led administration that all is not well in terms of securing the state, which is the primary responsibility of the government.
“That the chairman of the party of a sitting governor can be kidnapped is a testament to the very porous, ill-equipped, and ill-motivated security machinery in the state despite the humongous security vote being collected by Governor Obaseki on a monthly basis.
“The APC, Edo State chapter, uses this medium to demand of the abductors the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman, while we call on the security agencies in the state to leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensure his release unharmed,” he added.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has began airlifting the sensitive election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, Edo State, ahead of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali.
The operation is part of the NAF’s efforts to ensure the timely and secure delivery of materials necessary for a smooth electoral process.
This development reinforces the collaboration between NAF and INEC to facilitate logistics and ensure a peaceful election in Edo State.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, had previously reiterated NAF’s commitment to providing airlift support for the swift movement of electoral materials during a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
This airlift operation is a crucial aspect of NAF’s constitutional responsibility to provide Military Aid to Civil Authority, underscoring the force’s dedication to supporting democratic processes in Nigeria. With the election just days away, the NAF’s timely intervention will help ensure the successful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo State.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had earlier accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hunt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters in the state and force them into hiding ahead of September 21 governorship election.
Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.
The governor had said that the police chief obtained a warrant to arrest 60 members and supporters of PDP in Edo and that the IGP sent an armed “gang” of policemen who invaded the state, attacked PDP members, shot at a local government chairman and arrested 10 persons who are currently being detained in Abuja without charges.
Asked by the former head of state if his party would sign the peace accord, Obaseki said, “The person who is supposed to enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.
“We are now in a situation where from the Inspector General’s office, there are armed gang policemen who came into Edo State, invaded, arrested and took away PDP members.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has given reasons why he loves dancing.
The ‘Dancing Governor’, as he is fondly called, revealed this on Wednesday while responding to a tweet on X.
An X user, @Iwogoke, while praising the governor, stated that Adeleke has been busy fulfilling his electoral promises to the people of Osun State, while his political opponents believe he is only good at dancing.
Iwogoke tweeted, “I’m not flattering you, Your Excellency, your opponents think you can only dance but while they are busy shouting and calling you ‘Dancing Governor’, you are busy fulfilling your electoral promises to the people.”
Responding to the tweet via his verified X account, Adeleke explained that he loves dancing because it brings him joy.
Speaking further on his love for dancing, Adeleke highlighted that while dancing brings him immense happiness, his greater fulfilment comes from delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.
Outlining his administration’s efforts to enhance the state’s infrastructure, he noted that primary health centre rehabilitation is underway in at least 200 out of the 332 wards across Osun State, adding that road construction projects are also progressing in every local government area.
He wrote, “Dancing gives me joy, but delivering on my electoral promises and providing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Osun gives me even greater joy. Rehabilitation of primary health centers is ongoing in at least 200 out of 332 wards, and road construction is progressing in every Local Government!”
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