The National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has accused the Edo State Government of failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property following an alleged attack on Peter Obi and his supporters in Benin City.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Tanko said the state government did not provide adequate protection despite what he described as prior arrangements and the public nature of the event.
The incident reportedly occurred during the formal defection of former governorship candidate Olumide Akpata to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). According to a statement issued by Tanko, armed men allegedly trailed Obi and ADC leaders from the party’s secretariat to the residence of former national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, firing shots and damaging vehicles at the gate.
Tanko said, “It was a clear attempt of assassination, it may be direct or indirect. That is the way I feel because you’re talking about Olumide Akpata, former chairman of NBA, who knows the rules and regulations of our country, who cannot and will not subject himself to unconstitutionality and he is a law-abiding person.
“Therefore, everything that needs to be done must have been done by the leadership of the party at that particular venue.
“Inviting his excellency to this particular very important program of his must have been done with due diligence. But I must say, the government failed in its responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chapter 2, that yes, you must protect lives and properties. Even if, let’s assume, even if you said that probably you have not been notified, it is the duty of the government to protect the lives and property in that particular venue. It’s known, it’s public knowledge, that such an event is going to take place. So they failed in their duty, or deliberately so.
Melissa Enoch
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