By Iduozee Paul, Benin
The Edo State Information and Communications commissioner, Paul Onuobamu has accused members of the Edo Peoples Movement, EPM, a faction of the state APC, of responsibility for the bomb blasts rocking the state. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the state to end the crisis.
The commissioner spoke in his office while reacting to the recent bomb blast in the private residence of the secretary of the state factional APC, Lawrence Okah.
He absolved Governor Obaseki and the state government of responsibility for the explosions recorded in the state since the APC crisis. He said the problem started when the other 14 state legislators refused to come to the Assembly for proper inauguration.
He accused Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his group as those behind the bomb blasts, stressing that the governor believes in the rule of law and so cannot mastermind the bombing of the homes of members.
According to him, the crisis in the state started when the 14 law makers loyal to Adams Oshiomhole were trying to impeach and remove the governor.
The former majority leader in the Edo State Assembly said bombing started in the state immediately Ize-Iyamu defected to the APC from the PDP. He lamented that there is now fear of electoral violence in the state.
“Governor Obaseki believes in the rule of law. He does not believe in aggressive way of fighting for power. What would Obaseki benefit if Lawrence Okah is assassinated? The crisis is being caused by Pastor Osagie Ize-Itamu and his group,” the commissioner stated.
He said since the crisis is escalating every day, it is impertinent for the president to declare a state of emergency in the state as was done in Plateau State during Governor Joshua Dariye’s tenure to help put an end to the crisis there.
The commissioner urged the president to recognize that law and order have broken down in Edo State and therefore, intervene. A lot of casualties have been recorded since the Obaseki/Oshiomhole face-off.
The commissioner however, stressed that the disgruntled elements in the Edo Peoples Movement cannot remove Obaseki as governor adding, that the state is safe under him.
