Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has warned that the continuous harassment, intimidation, and arrest of chieftains and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, across the state by the police in the run-up to the September 21, gubernatorial election could lead to a crisis in the state.
He called on the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order to avert the looming crisis in the state.
Obaseki, who spoke when he received protesters at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital, to register their displeasure over the illegal arrest and detention of PDP members by the police, said that if the situation is not immediately addressed, given the peculiarities of the state, it could snowball into a nationwide crisis.
He, however, urged the youth and party faithful to remain calm and peaceful while awaiting the outcome of his meeting with the Inspector General of Police scheduled for tomorrow.
Noting that the police are said to be working in connivance with the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Obaseki said: “A local government chairman has also been arrested in connivance with the opposition party in the State to intimate members of our party, the PDP.
“I heard that the plan is to arrest as many PDP stalwarts as possible, including me if they can. I think this is a very dangerous trend and it’s a real threat to our democracy.
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“If the Commissioner of Police can undermine my authority as the Chief Security Officer of the State, then I don’t really know what I should do next. I don’t know how to stop you.
“I understand that the Inspector General of Police, IGP, will be in the state tomorrow and I will make my feelings known to him, that it’s not in the interest of anybody to undermine our democracy, particularly the Police.”
He continued: “The police force is supposed to protect every Nigerian, not some. When I heard that one of you was arrested yesterday, I called the Commissioner of Police in Edo State and he promised to get back to me but up till today as I speak, he has not gotten back to me.
“I understand that the person has been transferred to Abuja, it’s unconstitutional, it’s not right. I am the Chief Security Officer of Edo State and if a citizen commits a crime in Edo, he should be arrested and charged in Edo State not transferred to Abuja.
“I am going to make this known to the IGP and if the plan is not to have an election in Edo, then the world will know.”
Obaseki added, “So, please be peaceful, and let’s wait for the IGP to come in tomorrow and I will let my feelings known to him because they are creating a very dangerous situation in Edo.
“Edo is a very unique State and should not hold anybody responsible if they create a crisis in Edo which can snowball into anything and we don’t want it for Nigeria. Just wait and hear from me after my meeting with the IG tomorrow.”
