Suspected thugs today launched vicious attack on the convoy of the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and the chancellor of Edo State University, Aderemi Makanjuola at the Iyamho country home of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomole.
Special assistant to the governor on media, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said in a statement that Obaseki and the other guests escaped unscathed.
It was gathered that the governor and his other guests had attended the maiden convocation ceremony of the Edo University, Iyahmo in Etsako west local government area of the state.
The university is said to be opposite Oshiomhole’s home in Iyahmo.
A witness said the guests had gone to Oshiomhole’s house to honour the APC chairman’s invitation for a launch after the ceremony at the university.
“The former governor’s house is just opposite the university. Governor Obaseki, the Oba of Lagos and other guests had gone to Oshiomhole’s house for lunch when they were attacked by thugs led by one Romeo, said to be one of Oshiomhole’s cousins,” the witness said.
Another eye witness said the thugs went berserk when they sighted one Andrew Momodu who alleged led the attack on Oshiomhole’s home in Benin, Andrew Momodu.
Besides, he said the crisis was triggered by the deputy governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, who had allegedly led over 200 commercial motor-cyclists to the venue of the convocation in the morning.
The deputy governor and the ‘entourage’ were said to have been dispersed by policemen who fired tear gas at them.
“But the deputy governor found his way inside; he was the one who led the okada men from various parts of the state to the venue. So when the youths saw Momodu who was the governor’s chief security officer in the convoy, they got angry,” he added.
It took the intervention of the governor’s security aides to prevent a blood bath as several vehicles were smashed by the thugs.
Meanwhile, Obaseki has condemned the attack on him, Akiolu, Chancellor of the Edo University, Iyahmo, Dr. Aderemi Makanjuola and other guests at Oshiomhole’s residence.
Speaking to journalists after the incident, the governor took exception to the resort to violence, noting that it was shameful for such an attack to take place at the residence of the national chairman of the ruling party in the state and at the national level.
“It is very unfortunate that we can’t feel safe in the house of our national chairman. I am not sure that if I visit the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that they will attack me the way they did in the house of the APC national chairman.
“It is unfortunate that things have degenerated to this extent. But we will continue to sue for peace. We cannot afford to lose the gains of the last three years. We will continue to pursue peace,” he said.
