Ize-Iyamu, Obaseki Trade Words Over Police Movements

By GWG Staff

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Governor Godwin Obaseki were on Wednesday locked in a war of words over the deployment of a team of Police officers, numbering over 50, to Okpella, a community neighbouring Kogi State.

While Ize-Iyamu said the deployment was causing apprehension in a community he claimed had been massively turning its back against Obaseki, the governor in a riposte said the deployment was for security purposes which should not fret any law abiding person.

Ize-Iyamu speaking through his spokesman, John Mayaki said the strange development has caused apprehension in the town as residents express worry over planned violent intimidation ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

He said: “The Police officers were reportedly deployed on the orders of the Governor Godwin Obaseki and have set camp in the building of one Lukman Akemokue, a political aide and ally of the Deputy Governor, who relocated his mother from the building to make room for the officers.

“Residents of numerous surrounding communities in the area have lamented the Police officers’ night movements characterized by indiscriminate shootings, shouts of obscenities, and other bizarre acts of intimidation which they claim were aimed at inducing fear ahead of the polls.

“It is important to note that Okpella has recorded large numbers of movements from the PDP to the APC in the past few weeks, as residents declare their intention to back the bid of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu over failure by the Obaseki-led administration to keep his promises to them after four years.

“The dispatch of the Police officers has been interpreted as a desperate tactic by the Governor and his allies to scare away voters to prevent the anticipated embarrassing defeat expected on the 19th of September”, Mayaki said.

Meanwhile, Mayaki said the APC will do a formal petition to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Kokumo, and the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Muhammed, to probe the dispatch of the officers to Okpella and why they are occupying the private residence of the governor’s aide.

Policemen in Okpella, Agenebode, Akoko Edo are doing their job – Obaseki

Countering, Obaseki speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie said that the increased police presence noticed in Okpella, Agenebode, Akoko Edo and other parts of the state was not out of the norm.

According to Osagie, “With just a month to the gubernatorial poll in Edo State, security agencies are stepping up their activities across the state. This should not be misconstrued by anyone.

“The claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) is strange because anyone who means well for Edo people should commend the police for doing their job. The APC should not fret if they have no sinister plans.”

He urged Edo people to cooperate with men of the various security agencies and assist with information where necessary so that the forthcoming election will be peaceful, free and fair.

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