agents to arrest his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over the naira
scarcity protest which lead to the deaths of some persons in the state.
Addressing journalists in Benin, the state
capital, Obaseki, who spoke through the Commissioner for Communication and
Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said from investigations, the protest was
politically motivated.
He said the call for Oshiomhole’s arrest and
questioning became necessary following a viral video where the former national
chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) instigated the people to go on
rampage.
“We have been around the city all day,
speaking with some of the protesters and we have done our investigations. We
discovered that it is more than meets the eye.
“At this juncture, we will like to call on
security agencies to call Adams Oshiomhole for questioning. He should be
arrested and made to account for his movement in the last few days especially
here in Benin City. Oshiomhole deliberately instigated the protest of the
people,” he said.
He alleged that Oshiomhole instigated the
violence to destroy government properties in such a way “to bring anarchy to
our city because his government is about to lose the forthcoming general
elections,” saying the states which riot took place were PDP control states.
But checks showed that there riots in Ondo,
which is governed by the ruling APC.
“I know people will think the protest is as a
result of lack of naira notes but even if that is the case, Nigerians should
know which political party is involved because it is ironic the political party
that is responsible for this policy is the same party sending people to destroy
PDP billboards,” Nehikhare said.
Responding, Oshiomhole’s spokesperson, Victor
Oshioke, denied the allegation, saying Oshiomhole is busy campaigning for the
APC presidential candidate and himself.
The former governor is the APC candidate for
the February 25 election in Edo North Senatorial district. “Oshiomhole has no
time to call for violence because the people of Edo love him. Obaseki and his
people are rattled and nervous by the growing acceptance Oshiomhole gets any
where he goes to in the state.
“They want to blackmail him because they have
see his acceptance after almost eight years in government against Obaseki’s
government who had failed woefully. The people are happy with Oshiomhole
because of his performance which Obaseki can’t match, and they want to distract
him” he said.
According to him, Oshiomhole didn’t made any
statement to suggest that anybody should riot against anybody, adding that he
is busy campaigning to Edo North people for his senatorial ambition.
“If Oshiomhole could not instigate people in
past elections, while would he now instigate violence now that he is contesting
and the people are with him. In Etsako where he is campaigning, there is no
riot. And Obaseki is from Benin, so, he should check himself” he said.
