A group under the aegis of the Unity Ambassadors Initiative has called on the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to produce perpetrators of attack on All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo in Benin on Thursday.
Senator Okpebholo and the reinstated Edo deputy governor, Philip Shuaib, were shot by gunmen on Thursday while exiting the Benin Airport after they arrived from Abuja.
In a statement signed by its Convener,Comrade Philip Martins Eghomare, the group firmly condemned the attack and urged the law enforcement agencies to swiftly investigate and prosecute those culpable.
“The Unity Ambassadors Initiative strongly condemns the motorcade of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate who was brutally attacked on his way from Benin Airport by members of Edo State Security Network and Edo state government sponsored thugs allegedly led by Francis Inegbeniki.
“We call on the governor of Edo state to immediately produce the perpetrator of the attack.
“Elections are a fundamental part of our democratic process, and every citizen has the right to participate safely and freely without fear of harm. Violence and intimidation have no place in a healthy democracy. We urge all actors to model restraint, civility, and respect for the democratic process.
“Rather than resorting to violence, we encourage all political stakeholders to resolve conflicts through peaceful dialogue and to focus their efforts on putting forward their policy platforms and engaging voters. Ultimately, it is the will of the people, expressed through free and fair elections, that should determine the outcome – not the use of force or fear.
“The Edo State Government should uphold the rule of law and protect the safety of all indigenes during this election period. We call on law enforcement to swiftly investigate and prosecute the people responsible for the death (insp. Akur Onuh) officers”, the group stated.
The group also charged the people of Edo state to exercise their franchise come September 21 and choose the candidate of their choice.
The group said, “We implore all citizens to participate peacefully and with civility as we choose our next leaders (Governor).
“We are sending a warning to the opposition party, that Edo state is not for sale but for all its indigenes. And the life of our candidate must not be tempered with, if such an ugly incident occur again, It will not be taken lightly. We the Esan- central are strongly behind our illustrious son, Senator Monday Okpebholo, our incoming Governor by God’s grace.
“We are using this occasion to call on the IGP Kayode Egbetokun to swiftly investigate the incident that led to the killing of that gallant officer (insp. Akur Onuh), prosecute the perpetrator and justice must be served to serve as deterrent to other political thugs.
“We in the Unity Ambassador call on the people of goodwill to come and exercise their civil rights. President Abraham Lincoln once said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet. Therefore, I encourage us to come out emass without any fear or intimidation on September 21st and vote our senator Monday Okpebholo”.
