Ize-Iyamu, EPM working towards a State of Emergency in Edo – Ohonbamu

…insists Obaseki not prone to violence

The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, has said the former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osagie Ize-Iyamu and members of the proscribed Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) are working towards forcing the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency in the state.

This followed the use of explosives and other dangerous weapons by persons linked to the group in causing mayhem and heating up the political space in Edo State.

Ohonbamu, who spoke with journalists in Benin City, reiterated that the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki is not prone to violence and has nothing to gain in threatening the lives of opposition members.

He said it was laughable that the bombings have continued to follow the same pattern, noting, “In the past two weeks, we have had incidents of bombings in the state allegedly orchestrated by the members of the Edo People Movement (EPM) who went ahead to point accusing fingers to the Obaseki-led administration.

“The genesis of the whole problem started with the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) as the group, EPM, accused the governor forgetting that he doesn’t inaugurate the House but rather issues proclamation. They tried to use the National Assembly, the Senate and Federal House of Representatives against the governor but failed. Now their option is to resort to bombings to create the impression that the state is not safe so that the President will declare a state of emergency in Edo State,” he added.

He noted, “The recent moves in deploying bombings have merely portrayed their weakness and fear of electoral defeat. The defeat is sure and it is in fixed deposit. Osagie Ize-Iyamu was defeated before and will be defeated again any time any day. What is happening now is not a surprise as the intention of the EPM is to embarrass the Edo State Government by creating the impression that the state is not safe and the government is not doing well in terms of security but their plans have failed.

“Violence is a vice, which Ize-Iyamu imbibed right from childhood as Oshiomhole told us how Ize-Iyamu bathed people with acid while the pastor was schooling in the University of Benin (UNIBEN).”

The commissioner urged the people of Edo State to remain calm as the state remains peaceful, adding, “There is no cause for alarm as the security architecture is effectively keeping the state safe for all who reside in the state. The EPM wants to create the impression that the state is not safe, so that President Muhammadu Buhari will declare a state of emergency in Edo State. They should wait till the party primary and show how strategic they are by winning.”