The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has commended Edo people for the warm reception they gave to it’s governorship candidate and his running mate in 19 September governorship election, Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu during the campaign round the 192 wards in the state.
State chairman of PDP, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi gave the commendation on Sunday while briefing news men on the outcome of the party’s ward to ward governorship campaign which was rounded off Saturday at Oredo Local Government Area.
Aziegbemi who noted that the campaign was very effective though the opposition party made fibble attempts to truncate the exercise with violence, tasked security agencies to arrest and bring to book the perpetrators of the various violent attacks on PDP members.
“We went about our campaign with peace and love. Unfortunately, we have to put it on record that the APC made feeble attempts to disrupt our campaigns. We have catalogued, the senseless attacks on our party members and their properties. We challenge the APC, or any other party for that matter, to show such evidence of their members being attacked. It will amaze you to know that not one person has been arrested for these senseless attacks on our members. If not for the strong appeal from our Governor, HE Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, you can imagine what would have become of our state if retaliation was carried out by our members. Let me warn the APC – that our patience is not ELASTIC. I call on the Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Kokumo, to rise up to the occasion. His efforts thus far leave much to be desired. I call on all the other security agencies to step up their efforts before the elections, especially on the day of the election, 19th of September 2020. They should justify the salaries they earn from taxpayers’ money.”
Aziegbemi thanked Edo people for coming out enmasse to receive members of the PDP campaign council and commended Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu and other members of the campaign team for discharging their responsibilities diligently and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and security agencies to remain neutral during the governorship election.
“We also, with a humble heart, thank our members and indeed Edo citizens, for trooping out in their hundreds of thousands to catch a glimpse of our candidate and to hear our message. We also thank the security agencies for their professionalism. We also thank all the drivers in our convoy, caterers, musicians and everyone who took part one way or the other to make these five week ward to ward tour a memorable one.
“Edo people have clearly shown their preference for the PDP and its candidate during the forthcoming September 19th 2020 election. From multiple opinion polls conducted by independent bodies and organizations, the PDP has the support of 80% of the electorate while all other parties have 20%. Flowing from the above, we hereby demand, in the strongest terms possible, that INEC and the security agencies carry out their statutory responsibilities based on the oath of office they swore to, which is to be NEUTRAL. However, anyone who deviates from this sacred oath, which he or she willingly swore to, knows that we will ensure that the most extreme hand of the is meted out to them. Please note that anyone who deprives any human being from constituting their fundamental human rights is just as bad as enslaving or killing them and as such do not deserve anything less from the law. We call on the parents of all the ad-hoc staff that will be engaged in this election, to call their wards to order. Edo people deserve a free, fair, credible and peaceful election, and nobody, whether in the security agencies or in INEC will be allowed to subvert the will of the people. We will follow the process from A to Z from multiple angles, and if you are caught doing the wrong thing, be assured that as a party that believes in and promotes the right for people to freely express their choice, we will be waiting and ensuring that law effects the fullest possible punishment”, he said.
