The flag off of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP election campaign held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Saturday but not without violence which has become the norm during election period.
The Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic party PDP had gone to the palace of the Oba of Benin, to pay a courtesy call on the Oba in council, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopolo,Oba Ewuare 1 in Benin City the Edo State Capital.
The PDP entourage to the palace included the National Chairman,Uche Secondus, Governor of Rivers State who is Chairman of the campaign council and Governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Bauchi Oyo and the host Governor and Candidate,Godwin Obaseki.
The PDP campaign team had barely left the Oba’s palace when hoodlums besieged the palace and orchestrated violence.
Guns were fired, people were injured while vehicles were destroyed.
The Edo Police Command however put the situation under control and made arrest.
Reacting to the incident, the Governor, Obaseki asked his supporters asked his supporters not to engage in any act that would result in violence as the Opposition Party has done.
” It is a shame that the opposition party has now resorted to violence,please please please we do not want bloodshed.One of their billionaire people hired a lot of thugs today around the Oba’s palace and I heard they are busy destroying cars with PDP flags, Do not retaliate.God will retaliate for us.”
Obaseki said the theme of his re-election campaign would focus on how to improve governance, how to use government to support the people, how to use government to create a good business environment so that people can do their businesses unharnessed by thugs. “ How can we use government to transform your life?
The Country belongs to you and not to a few people ” He added.
In his speech the National Chairman of the PDP, Secondus urge the electorate not to be afraid of the guns saying votes must count.
He called on President Buhari to do the needful by giving Nigeria, Justice
equity and fair play.
Earlier,Wike had told the crowd of PDP supporters not to be afraid.
“Nobody can rig this election.No one man can decide what will happen in Edo State.”
As the date for the governorship elections draws closer, with show of violence at the flag off of campaigns ,it is becoming clear that the worst is yet to come.
