The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communications and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has reacted to the threat by Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, to institute a lawsuit against him.
TVN recalls that Onanuga recently alleged that Obi and his supporters were responsible for the planned nationwide protests against the Tinubu-led government over the hardship in the country.
But Obi, in a letter signed by his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme, to Onanuga, urged the presidential spokesman to retract the statement and tender an unreserved apology to him within 72 hours.
Obi also demanded N5 billion in damages from Onanuga over the said allegation.
Reacting, Onanuga, in a fresh post on his official X handle on Tuesday, said: “I am still waiting for the letter from Peter Obi’s lawyer threatening a N5 billion suit and demanding an apology to Peter Obi over the planned ‘revolution’.
“Let me just tell Obi and his lawyer: I am not afraid of any legal action. We shall meet in court.”
N5bn defamation threat: We meet in court – Onanuga replies Peter Obi
N5bn defamation threat: We meet in court – Onanuga replies Peter Obi
OPINION: Ndigbo in the crosshairs of ‘Days of Rage’
IT’S less than 10 days away. That’s if the planned protests against hunger, poverty, bad governance etcetera, were to materialize. The protests are scheduled for August 1-10. The organisers have a name for it: Days of Rage. The protests are designed to happen simultaneously across the country for 10 consecutive days. Unless Nigeria has changed, this project and especially its duration looks like a tall order.
Nigeria of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s appear to be a long gone era. The period has almost been blotted from our collective memories. During those epochs, Nigerian youths, led mostly by students of tertiary institutions were upfront in opposing any government policy or programmes considered not to be in the best interest of the country. They did so in 1962, just two years after Nigeria gained independence from Britain. They fought to ensure the scrapping of the obviously one-sided Anglo-Nigerian Defence Agreement.
Alex Lennox -Boyd was the British secretary of state for colonies in 1958, two years before Nigeria was granted independence. In fact, by 1958 both the Eastern region and the Western region had attained self rule status from the colonizers. The Northern region, apparently fearing dominance by the more sophisticated regions of the south said it was not ready to govern itself and so opted to be under the suzerainty of Britain.
The 1958 memo by Lennox -Boyd encapsulated the ingredients for the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Agreement which will be handed over to the government of an independent Nigeria to sign. There was no evidence that Nigerian nationalists who were jostling to replace the British made any input into drafting the so-called Agreement. But history has it that Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the Action Group (AG) political party revolted against the pact when it came to his knowledge.
So, in 1962 when Britain showed its hand for the execution of the pact by the leaders of our country, Nigerian students rose as one to march on their campuses and on the streets in the country’s major cities in opposition to the Agreement. They did not relent until Britain backed down and Nigeria backed out. There were not too many universities then nor higher institutions. And students’ leaders were not known to be acolytes of partisan politicians of the then dominant political parties such as the National Council for Nigeria and Cameroons (NCNC) and AG. The issues of ethnic or tribal affiliations were virtually non-existent.
The vexatious issues in the pact were the granting by Nigeria to Britain overflying rights and testing by Royal Air Force aircraft; and whether Britain should still have any maintenance staff on ground in Nigeria. Nigerian youths said an emphatic no because they were persuaded that it amounted to an unequal relationship and moreover there was no evidence that Nigeria contributed in framing the so-called Agreement.
Consequently, Britain and Nigeria were forced to release a statement abrogating the pact. The statement read: “The British and Nigerian Governments have been consulting together about the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Agreement. They have noted with concern that the scope and purposes of the Agreement have been widely misunderstood. In particular, fears have arisen that in consequence of the Agreement, Nigeria’s action might be impaired and that she might even be drawn into hostilities against her wishes.
Continuing the statement said: “The text of the Agreement shows that these and other anxieties which have been expressed are wholly without foundation. Nevertheless, in order to end misunderstanding, the two governments have thought it wise to reconsider the need for a formal agreement.
“As a result, they have decided to abrogate the Agreement. Each government will, however, endeavour to afford to the other at all times such assistance and facilities in defence matters as are appropriate between partners in the Commonwealth”. That was the Nigeria of the 1960s.
By the 1970s, more higher institutions including universities had sprung up. And the win over the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Agreement had bolstered the resolve of youths and students that opposing real or perceived unjust policies of the government was right and winnable. And then came 1978. The regime of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo who succeeded the assassinated Gen. Murtala Muhammed increased fees payable by students in the universities. Hell was let loose. Students would not take it and the military regime would not back down either. Col. Ahmadu Ali was the federal commissioner (minister) of education. He had the support of the hierarchy of the ruling junta to dig in. And he did. The protesting students were no less determined. The result was bloodshed on the streets, deaths and injuries mainly on the part of the students. The students revolt was appropriately tagged ‘Ali Must Go Protests’. The protests also known as the 1978 Students Crisis was for a long time regarded as one of the most violent student agitation in this country. It was also said to be responsible for the political crisis that dogged the Muhammed/Obasanjo military regime of 1975-1979.
Apart from fees reversal, the protesting students who also boycotted lectures demanded return to democracy and rule by civilians; democratisation of government institutions; genuine independence of the country; and, the enhancement of the quality of life of the masses. Some commentators argue that the bloody confrontation ended in a stalemate but it must be noted that the military regime vacated office just 17 months after for democratically elected administration of President Shehu Shagari and Vice President Alex Ekwueme.
‘Ali Must Go’ was a turning point in relations between Nigerians and their rulers. A template was adopted by subsequent rulers to the effect that there won’t be any consequences in using brute force and deadly violence to put down protests of any type.
Fast forward to October 2020. For decades, Nigerians were at the receiving end of the brutalities of the state security agents, particularly a branch of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) called SARS- The Special Anti-Robbery Squad. SARS was notorious for bloodletting, visiting violence on hapless Nigerian youths, acting with impunity and as if its operatives were above the law. Any youngster they found with a laptop was automatically tagged as an Internet fraudster while those who wore braided hairs (dreadlocks) were treated as vagabonds and criminals. SARS dealt summarily with such young people by extorting or executing them. Even older people were not spared. Something had to give. And it did give from October 8, 2020 when the youths took a stand by protesting and demonstrating against police violence and brutality. The protests morphed into demands for good governance.By October 20, there was a repeat of the 1978 ‘Ali Must Go’ bloodletting but this time on a higher and unimaginable scale. There was a massacre. The world was repulsed. Voices of condemnation rent the air. Nigeria had finally perfected the art of killing its children who were protesting brutality, corruption and bad governance. They were only armed with patriotic songs, waving the national flag and singing the national anthem.
First, the government, led by Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the affliction, a military dictator masquerading as a civilian ruler used thugs and street urchins to infiltrate the hitherto peaceful protests, to instigate violence, looting and destruction of public property. Then under the cover of darkness on October 20, the mindless regime ordered soldiers to shoot and kill our children in cold blood. The ghosts of the children who were massacred in one of the killing fields -the Lekki, Lagos toll plaza- on that particular day are still haunting the place and hunting their killers. They can pretend but they will have no peace. I believe the Good Book which says that there’s no peace for the wicked and that those who kill with the sword will die by the sword. It’s just a matter of time.
In the four years since the ENDSARS Protests in October 2020, there has been a strident campaign by a section of the Yoruba nation, an insignificant number it must be acknowledged, to hold Ndigbo responsible for instigating the protests and spearheading the looting and burning of public buildings in Lagos in the aftermath of the riots. As Nigeria moves almost inexorably towards a fresh round of confrontations which could result from the planned Days of Rage from August 1, the narrative about the Igbo being responsible for past protests is resurfacing and gaining currency. And these false and wicked narratives have always had consequences for Ndigbo. The Igbo paid with livelihoods, limbs and life in 1966 after the July counter coup. July was the crescendo of the persistent peddling of lies and propaganda that the Igbo were the mastermind of the January 1966 military coup during which some political and religious leaders of the north died. It did not matter that it was a lie because the Igbo paid a huge price.
*To be contd.
AUTHOR: UGO ONUOHA
Articles published in our Graffiti section are strictly the opinion of the writers and do not represent the views of TVN or its editorial stand.
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Reps okay bill seeking to extend IG’s tenure
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the Police Act Amendment Bill to allow the occupant of the Office of the Inspector General of Police to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment.
The House decision followed the consideration and approval of President Bola Tinubu’s request, seeking an amendment of the Principal Act, to reflect on the tenure of the IGP.
The proposed legislation to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020 seeks to guarantee the tenure of the IGP and enhance police operations by promoting accountability, modernising policing methods and fostering a more harmonious relationship between the police and the community.
When the executive bill was read on the floor of the House on Tuesday, lawmakers voted unanimously to pass it expeditiously.
The Senate similarly passed it at its sitting on Tuesday.
Recall that earlier in July, police authorities denied allegations that incumbent IGP, Kayode Egbetokun made moves to influence the National Assembly to pass a bill seeking to raise the retirement age of officers.
The President appointed Egbetokun as the IGP in June 2023 and he is expected to stay in office for four years. He was appointed alongside four new service chiefs.
In compliance with Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, is expected to retire in September 2024 at the age of 60.
A copy of the bill obtained by our correspondent showed that Section 18 of the Principal Act is amended by the addition of a new Sub-Section (8A).
It reads, “Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”
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Reps pass bill to raise 2024 Budget to N35.06tn
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed the supplementary bill seeking to increase the 2024 Appropriation Act from N28.7tn to N35.06tn.
The House had on Wednesday, July 17, passed the N6.2tn extra-budgetary proposal by President Bola Tinubu and on Tuesday, the bill scaled the third reading with Clauses 1 to 13 considered and approved at the Committee of Supply.
A breakdown of the proposed N35.06tn for the 2024 fiscal year showed that N1.74tn is earmarked for statutory transfers; N8.27tn for debt service; N11.2tn for recurrent expenditure while N13.77tn is slated as a contribution to the Development Fund for capital expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2024.
Leading the debate on the general principle of the bill, the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi, who presented the harmonised joint Senate and House report on the budget, pleaded for the adoption of the recommendations of the ommittee.
Addressing journalists shortly after the passage of the budget, Bichi said, “As you can see, we have passed the N6.2tn budget of Mr President, the budget of Renewed Nope.
“N3.2tn is for capital expenditure while about N3tn will go to the current. And as I said last time, the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is a critical road infrastructure that Mr President wants to actualise.
“The Lagos-Calabar highway covers about nine states, which is about 700-kilometre road projects. Also, the Sokoto-Badagry highway is critical, covering about seven states. It covers about 1,000km. We have another one from Ebonyi, all the way from Abuja, from the Trans-Saharan section. We need some funding to execute these important projects.”
He added that strategic rail projects passing through Abuja, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina up to Maradi in Niger Republic will be funded from the budget.
He pledged the readiness of the parliament to engage the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure the full implementation of the budget.
He added, “We engaged both the Minister of Budget and the implementation agencies – Minister of Transportatiom, Minister of Works, and Minister of Water Resources. They promised that as long as we pass this budget, the implementation will be 100 per cent.
“We had an engagement with the Minister of Budget and National Planning and she confirmed that the funding is there and the projects will commence.”
On whether the N3tn approved for the payment of the N70,000 minimum is enough, Bichi said, “Absolutely, we did our calculations. We got the data from the Accountant General of the Federation’s office before we applied this figure.
“We know that the money is enough from now till December 31 to take care of the N70,000 minimum. Nigeria should be expecting dividends of democracy.”
Police rescues 10 pregnant women from baby factory, arrests operator
Police operatives in Akwa Ibom have rescued 10 pregnant women from a baby factory.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Uyo on Tuesday.
He said the baby factory is operated by a 56-year-old suspect, Eunice Eze.
Ayilara said that the suspect who specialises in running a baby factory at World Bank Estate in Owerri, Imo State, was arrested on July 15.
The CP said: “On July 15 at about 4:30 p.m. based on actionable intelligence, Mrs. Eunice Eze ‘f’ age 56 years was arrested for running a baby factory at World Bank Estate in Owerri.
“The suspect specialises in stealing babies and pregnant women from Akwa Ibom through her agent, Ability Tom.”
He said the police also arrested a wanted kidnapper in the state.
He added that the kidnapper and his group were responsible for the abduction and murder of several persons in the state.
The CP listed items recovered from the suspects to include two AK-47 rifles, two G3 rifles, one double barrel rifle, five magazines, and seven live ammunition.
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Ekiti man bags 14 years jail term for assaulting six-year-old girl
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division on Tuesday sentenced a 24-year-old man, Sunday Asere, to 14 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl.
Asere was arraigned on March 22, 2022, on one count charge of rape.
The charge read, “The defendant sometime in January 2020 at Moferere in Ado Ekiti, did rape a six-year-old girl.
“The offence is contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012,” it stated.
The six-year-old girl, who said she was a primary one pupil at that time, said that the defendant, who was her mother’s neighbour, was fond of fondling her private part whenever her mother was not around.
She had said that although she was feeling pain whenever the defendant fondled her private part, she could not tell her mother because of her harshness.
She, however, said that she relayed everything to her father when he (father) came to visit her at school on January 14, 2020, a day after the defendant violated her again, following which the father reported the matter at the police station.
The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called six witnesses and tendered statements of the defendant and medical report as exhibits.
The defendant, who spoke in his defence through his counsel, Adedayo Adewumi, did not call any witness.
In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said that the findings upon medical examination, revealed likely sexual abuse, but no evidence of penetration of the vagina.
Adeleye stated that from the circumstances, the prosecution was able to establish sexual assault
“The defendant is liable for imprisonment for a term of 14 years
“Accordingly, the defendant is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for 14 years,” the judge pronounced.
NCC hosts national launch of ITU collaborative regulation report on Nigeria
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has collaborated with the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, and received support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, FCDO, to prepare the ITU Collaborative Regulation Report on Nigeria.
The report reviews Nigeria’s approach to regulating Information and Communications Technology, ICT.
The report was officially launched on July 22, 2024, at the NCC Mbora Annex Office by the Honorable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
The report highlights Nigeria’s collaborative regulatory efforts in the ICT sector.
In his speech at the launch, Dr Bosun Tijani said “15-20 years ago, NCC was just regulating the telecommunications sector.
“Today, NCC regulates the foundation for which any economy will be prosperous. Without communications technology, there is absolutely no nation today that is prosperous.”
The report is available for download at the following link:
NCC hosts national launch of ITU collaborative regulation report on Nigeria
Brother’s hired thugs beat man to death for stealing doors in Anambra
Some yet-to-be-identified thugs have beaten a 28-year-old man identified as Kingsley Okoye, to death for allegedly stealing and selling his elder brother’s foreign doors from a construction site.
The incident happened in the Okpuno Umuogali community of Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday.
The deceased was accused of selling some foreign doors he removed from a yet-to-be-completed building belonging to his elder brother, Joseph Okoye who lives abroad.
His brother was said to have invited the thugs to torture him, only for them to beat him to death.
An eyewitness and a cousin to the deceased, Kosisochukwu Uzoekwe, who disclosed the development to journalists on Tuesday, said there had been a lingering issue between the two brothers over the sale of a family property.
He said, “My cousin, Joseph Okoye, the elder brother of Late Kingsley Okoye from Okpuno Umuogali in Oba, who lives abroad earlier sold one of their immediate family property and had since refused to share the money realised from the sale of the property with his brother.
“Since then, life had been so difficult for Kingsley because he thought he could have used his own share from the proceeds as capital to establish himself.
“Recently, his elder brother began to build a house in Oba here. So, out of hunger and frustration, when Kingsley learnt that his elder brother just purchased some foreign doors to install in his new house, he went to the site, removed three doors and sold, saying that he needed the money to buy food for himself.
According to him, on hearing that Kingsley sold three of the doors in his building site, Joseph sent some money to his sister and instructed her to arrange for some thugs to beat up Kingsley and teach him the lesson of his life.
“So the sister contracted two notorious thugs and they came to Okpuno Umuogali to beat Kingsley. When the people intervened, they whisked him off on a bike. The thugs took Kingsley to an unknown destination where they beat him to a pulp.
“When they discovered that Kingsley was no longer responding, they took him to Sahara Hospital, Oba, where the doctor confirmed that he was brought in dead. As the doctor rejected him, they took his corpse to FAH Hospital and Embalment Centre, where he was deposited in the morgue,” he said.
Uzoekwe further noted that the trio have been at large and switched off their mobile phones since after the incident, making it difficult to contact or reach them after the heinous crime.
When contacted, a sister to the deceased, identified as Ebele, who was said to have mobilised the thugs on the instruction of Joseph, did not deny that her brother sponsored the torturing of Kingsley for selling the doors.
She, however, claimed that she was not the person who was given the money to contract the thugs, adding that it was Joseph’s fiancee from Umuorabem village, Oba, who was around on the day of the incident.
“I am very sad because of the turn of events. Despite the several pleadings I and my mother pleaded with Joseph to forgive Kingsley for selling just three pieces of his doors, he went ahead to arrange with his fiancee from Umuorabem who told his brother to contact people I do not know to beat up our brother, resulting to his unfortunate death.
“Everyone is pointing accusing fingers at me that I was the one who received money from my brother, Joseph, to arrange the people that beat Kingsley to death; but it is not so.
“I went for the graduation ceremony of my children that fateful Sunday, only for Joseph to call me on the phone from abroad, informing me by himself that Kingsley died in the hands of the people his fiancee and her fiancee’s brother called to discipline Kingsley by Joseph’s instructions,” she said.
Reacting to the allegation, when contacted, the accused, Joseph, who regretted his actions said that he never intended to hurt or kill his younger brother, but only wanted some boys to find out from his brother where he kept the three doors, to recover them for his building project.
He said, “I have already tendered my statement to the Oba Divisional Police Officer at the police station. My brother has been stealing from my building site, and last Friday night, July 19, 2024, my workers discovered that three foreign doors which I bought for N85,000 each were missing; and all fingers were pointing at my brother, Kingsley.
“I told my mother and sister to help me beg Kingsley to bring back my doors or tell me who he sold the doors to, but he denied stealing them. On Saturday, July 20, 2024, I now contacted some boys from Umumpama Oba to beat him and find out the whereabouts of the doors; and then Kingsley confessed that he stole those doors with two of his friends and sold them to a wielder at N15,000 each.
“While they were beating him, I was with them on video call that Saturday and they assured me that Kingsley was still alive. I told them to take him to the nearest hospital for treatment after his confession.
“Surprisingly, I was shocked to hear from one of those boys on Sunday, July 21 2024, that my brother Kingsley was dead. I asked them what happened and I could not configure their story. I later heard from the doctor that he was brought in dead and that one of the thugs identified as ‘Jukwaaese’ and his boys ran away as soon he was confirmed dead.
He noted that his sister said that there were matchet cuts all over Kingsley’s body, dripping with blood at the mortuary, but that was not the case on Saturday when he was following up the interrogation on a video call.”
He said, “I insist that ‘Jukwaese’ who is now at large must be apprehended to tell me why he killed my brother because I only told them to beat him a little so that he would reveal where my doors were so that I could recover them, but I do not know the motive why Jukwaaese and his boys killed my brother.”
“Wherever Jukwaese runs to, he must be fished out to explain why he killed my brother,” Joseph said.
When contacted, the police division in Oba, confirmed that the matter had been reported to the station and investigations had begun.
A police source at the station said, “The matter was reported at the Oba police division and investigation is ongoing. Right now, anticult operatives have picked some suspected cultist s in Oba. Some things cannot be said now in order not to jeopardise investigation.”
Edo Guber: INEC engages CSOs to conduct voter education for electorates
Ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has engaged the services of Civil Society Organizations as voters educators, influencers and advocates for free, fair, credible and peaceful electoral processes.
TVN reports that Dr Anugbum Onuoha, the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner disclosed this at a one-day INEC dialogue with Civil Society Organizations and People with disabilities on peaceful participation of the electorate ahead of the governorship election in the state.
Onuoha, who said peace is a critical factor in any electoral process, noted that without peace elections would not be conducted.
While noting that CSOS are critical stakeholders in electoral processes, he added that the commission is collaborating with them to help educate the electorate on the need to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.
He said for the CSOs to be able to carry out their duty successfully they must detach themselves from active politics.
He, however, appealed to all stakeholders in the electoral process to help educate the electorate and mobilize the public on the need for them to vote during the election.
In her remarks, Mrs Hembadoon Akaayar, Assistant Director, CSOs, INEC, Abuja, opined that the partnership with the civil society has assisted the commission in shaping and improving its policies, ranging from expansion of voter access to polling units.
Akaayar, represented by Mr Bukar Maikwada, Head of Unit, programme, CSOs, Abuja listed other policies to include deployment of technology, provision of assistive materials for persons with disabilities and others targeted at the marginalized groups in the electoral process.
She added that the dialogue would provide the platform to interface and equip CSOs with the requisite knowledge needed to become better public influencers and ultimately guide the electorate on the best ways to ensure peaceful conduct of the Edo governorship election.
On his part, Timidi Wariowei, Head, Voters Education, Edo State, INEC office said the commission had engaged six CSOs to help it in conducting voter education in the three senatorial districts of the state.
Wariowei, who gave an update on the preparations for the Edo Governorship election, added that the commission has adequately prepared to conduct an election that would be credible, free, fair and violence-free.
He also added that the commission would be engaging the 18 CSOs across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state to help INEC educate and sensitize voters especially those at the grassroots on the need to exercise their civil responsibilities and franchise.
In his remarks, Bartholomew Okoudo, President of the Conference of Non-governmental Organizations, CONGOS, posited that civil society organizations play a crucial role in promoting peace.
Okoudo listed some of the contributions of CSO activities in electoral processes to include increased voter turnout, improved electoral credibility, reduced electoral violence, enhanced civil engagement, strengthened democratic institutions and promotion of peaceful democratic transitions.
Edo Guber: INEC engages CSOs to conduct voter education for electorates
Ex-Edo commissioner denies involvement in attack on Shaibu’s convoy
A former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in Edo State, Efe Stewart, on Tuesday, denied involvement in last Thursday’s political violence in the state.
The convoy of the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was attacked by gunmen last Thursday which led to the death of a police officer, Inspector Akor Onuh.
The incident has pitched the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC in the state against each other, with both calling for a probe while indicting opposition members as those involved in the mayhem.
Stewart, who dumped the PDP for the APC after moving to the PDP with Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, was one of those that the PDP and the state government accused of being behind the shooting.
However, Stewart told newsmen in Benin, the state capital, that the allegation by the state government in a petition to the Inspector General of Police was targeted at tarnishing his rising political profile and reputation following his defection to the APC.
He noted that he left the ruling PDP to the APC due to irreconcilable differences after putting in so much resources and energy in his capacity as a chieftain of his former party.
He said that having served the Obaseki-led government as a commissioner, he remained committed to enthroning good governance and leadership in the state.
He explained that while some politicians in his locality, and Egor Local Government Area were pursuing their selfish interests by running the party aground, the party failed to rein in the likes of such disgruntled politicians and he found it unacceptable and dumped the PDP.
He said, “This is to let Edo residents know that I was not involved in last Thursday’s political violence, which claimed the life of a police officer.
“I left the PDP when it became obvious that I could not work with the person spearheading the PDP activities in my local government in Egor..”
He urged the public to disregard the falsehood in a statement by the state government which allegedly dragged him into the violence adding that he has no business whatsoever with the PDP and their co-travellers who are busy disturbing the peace of the state instead of focusing on winning the September governorship election.