Edo state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Louis Odion, has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of masterminding a plot to assassinate Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
The allegation came just as Mr. Odion’s private residence in Benin was reportedly attacked by a team of gunmen in the early hours of yesterday.
The governor’s convoy was at the weekend involved in a ghastly crash along the Warrake–Auchi road that killed three journalists, leaving many others including security details injured.
The governor was returning from a rally in Afuze, headquarters of Owan East local government area, when a lorry suddenly veered off its track, facing the governor’s staff car and missing it by the whiskers. It later rammed into the vehicle conveying the security details and the bus conveying Government House press crew.
The sequence of events leading to the crash and its aftermath points to foul play, Odion said, calling for a thorough investigation of the incident by the security agencies.
While the driver of the offending truck was said to have been nabbed while trying to escape after initially hiding in the bush, his partner was reportedly arrested on the spot by security agents attached to the governor.
Said Mr. Odion: “Under interrogation much later, the driver’s partner could not offer a coherent explanation on their destination and mission while on the road. He said he was asked by the driver to join him in the vehicle to go somewhere shortly before the accident and that the purpose and destination was not explained to him.
“As if that was not puzzling enough, we also observed that even while the Governor and other Good Samaritan were still busy trying to retrieve the wounded from the two accidented vehicles and comforting the traumatised, a statement signed by PDP had already landed in television and radio stations in Benin expressing sympathy and condolence to Oshiomhole and the victims”.
“When we take these together and the litany of open threats earlier made by our political opponents to deal ruthlessly with top officials of the Oshiomhole administration, we are persuaded to strongly believe that there is more to the Saturday incident than readily meets the eye”.
“That is why we are calling on the Commissioner of Police and the State Security Service to carry out a thorough investigation”.
“Again, as if that is not enough, at about 3a.m Sunday, my private residence in Benin City came under attack by a gang of four gunmen. It happened that the Governor and a few Commissioners including myself had a meeting which lasted till 1.30a.m on Sunday”.
Meanwhile, Governor Oshiomhole has paid condolence visits to the bereaved families. Accompanied by some senior government officials, Oshiomhole was in the home of Mr. George Okosun, Mr Olatunji Jacobs, both of the Independent Television (ITV) and Mr Fidelis Okhani of the African Independent Television (AIT).
Consoling the wives, Mrs. Isokhen Okosun, Mrs. Blessing Olatunji and Mrs. Rita Okhani and relatives at their respective homes in Benin City, Oshiomhole said, “we have come to condole with you on the untimely death of our brother and comrade. It is hard to find the appropriate words to console you at this trying moment”.
The allegation came just as Mr. Odion’s private residence in Benin was reportedly attacked by a team of gunmen in the early hours of yesterday.
The governor’s convoy was at the weekend involved in a ghastly crash along the Warrake–Auchi road that killed three journalists, leaving many others including security details injured.
The governor was returning from a rally in Afuze, headquarters of Owan East local government area, when a lorry suddenly veered off its track, facing the governor’s staff car and missing it by the whiskers. It later rammed into the vehicle conveying the security details and the bus conveying Government House press crew.
The sequence of events leading to the crash and its aftermath points to foul play, Odion said, calling for a thorough investigation of the incident by the security agencies.
While the driver of the offending truck was said to have been nabbed while trying to escape after initially hiding in the bush, his partner was reportedly arrested on the spot by security agents attached to the governor.
Said Mr. Odion: “Under interrogation much later, the driver’s partner could not offer a coherent explanation on their destination and mission while on the road. He said he was asked by the driver to join him in the vehicle to go somewhere shortly before the accident and that the purpose and destination was not explained to him.
“As if that was not puzzling enough, we also observed that even while the Governor and other Good Samaritan were still busy trying to retrieve the wounded from the two accidented vehicles and comforting the traumatised, a statement signed by PDP had already landed in television and radio stations in Benin expressing sympathy and condolence to Oshiomhole and the victims”.
“When we take these together and the litany of open threats earlier made by our political opponents to deal ruthlessly with top officials of the Oshiomhole administration, we are persuaded to strongly believe that there is more to the Saturday incident than readily meets the eye”.
“That is why we are calling on the Commissioner of Police and the State Security Service to carry out a thorough investigation”.
“Again, as if that is not enough, at about 3a.m Sunday, my private residence in Benin City came under attack by a gang of four gunmen. It happened that the Governor and a few Commissioners including myself had a meeting which lasted till 1.30a.m on Sunday”.
Meanwhile, Governor Oshiomhole has paid condolence visits to the bereaved families. Accompanied by some senior government officials, Oshiomhole was in the home of Mr. George Okosun, Mr Olatunji Jacobs, both of the Independent Television (ITV) and Mr Fidelis Okhani of the African Independent Television (AIT).
Consoling the wives, Mrs. Isokhen Okosun, Mrs. Blessing Olatunji and Mrs. Rita Okhani and relatives at their respective homes in Benin City, Oshiomhole said, “we have come to condole with you on the untimely death of our brother and comrade. It is hard to find the appropriate words to console you at this trying moment”.