Publicity Secretary of the All Peoples Congress (APC) in Edo State, Joseph Osagiede, yesterday, February 4, called for the investigation of recent attacks and ‘bombings’ in the state by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in the state.
Osagiede, while making this call in an exclusive interview with Info Daily noted that when incidents happen in a particular pattern, there is need for every reasonable and right thinking person to understand a particular person is responsible for the whole thing.
Indicting the the National Chairman for the series of attacks in the state and tracing polical attacks to Auchi, Osagiede recalled how the then deputy governor was attacked at Auchi during campaign, Ize-Iyamu wife’s clinic was attacked and one Mr Frank’s house was vandalised, stressing that all fingered Oshiomhole as the man behind the attacks then.
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He said, “On the 19th of October, 2014, Ize-Iyamu came out to say that his wife’s clinic was attacked with the aim of killing her, thinking that he was also there, with the aim of killing both of them, and that he was very sure that the attack was carried out by Oshiomhole.
“In 2016, during the campaign period, Doctor Pius Odubu went to Auchi for a political rally, boys came from no where and used guns and machetes to chase them away. They injured a lot of people including the orderly of the deputy gov. He was injured in the eyes; bullet entered his eyes.
“We also know that a few kilometers away from Auchi in Iyamho, the governor (Obaseki) and his entourage which included the Oba of Lagos and the chancellor of the university were attacked right in front of Oshiomhole’s house with guns and machetes. So, why is it that it is always Auchi and its environs that we are seeing all these attacks? Why is it that it is people who are in disagreement with Oshiomhole that are always attacked”, Osagiede questioned.
READ ALSO: Edo APC Crisis: Oshiomhole must apologise if he wants reconciliation, Shuaibu Insists
He re-echoed that the National Chairman has been suspended and he remains suspended going by the constitution of the party.
“The ward suspended him, the local government approved it and the state approved it too.The constitution of our party is very clear. If you are suspended from the ward, and the local government and the state rectified it, you stand suspended as a member of the party, so we don’t regard him as a member of the party any more”, he said.
Responding to questions on how the party has been factionalized, the publicity secretary argued that APC remains one in the state, adding that some persons are Impersonating the party but not APC but Edo Peoples Moment (EPM).
“We don’t regard them as APC members, they are Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) members and that is why we are saying don’t hold a rally when you are not a member of APC. How can you hold a rally when the state chairman is not aware; when I as publicity secretary is not there; when the gov who is the leader of the party is not there”, he added.
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Attempt to hear from the National Chairman’s camp by Info Daily was proved abortive as his spokesperson declined to speak but referred our reporter to the local APC in the state, adding that he was not in position to speak.
Calls put across to the local APC were not going through as at press time.