APC Guber Candidate, Obaseki, Calls Attackers Cowards

Adibe Emenuonu in Benin City

Following the reported attack of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship hopeful in Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday, he has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to frustrate his campaign by persons he described as ‘cowards’.

He however asserted that his burning desire to serve the people of the state will propel him to victory.

Meanwhile, the police in the state has arrested three persons in connection with the attack on Obaseki, while two locally made pistols were recovered.

According to the police spokesman in the state, DSP Abiodun Osifo, “The suspects are with us and the intelligence unit of the Command is investigating the incident to ascertain the true picture of the attack. Until after investigation I cannot tell you more”.

A statement signed by the Obaseki Campaign Organisation and made available to journalists in Benin City has described the attack on Obaseki campaign train at Sobe Sunday evening as a sad commentary, urging all aspirants of the party to join hands with security agents in checking thuggery and attempt to create unnecessary tension in the state.

According to the statement, “Obaseki have been moving peacefully to visit delegates across the 192 wards of the state and has successfully been canvassing for their votes without running anybody down. The attack on his campaign train at Sobe while he was waiting to address delegates came as a huge shock to us.

“While we await the police investigation into the matter, we urge all aspirants of our great party, the APC to caution their followers against violence and actions capable of bringing the party in a bad light. Prior to this attack, we had it on good authority that some hoodlums are being sent to our camp as spies and were mandated to cause chaos at any given opportunity.

“It is our strong belief that this election is not a do or die affair and it does not worth the blood of any person, therefore we must all comport ourselves as gentlemen and women in gthis race for governorship. Apart from our brother aspirants in the APC, we are also admonishing the PDP aspirants to toe the path of peace. Disrupting the campaign of any aspirant is not the best for any of us.”