Edo APC leaders deny Oshiomhole part of mock primary
*Vow to oust Obaseki from office
All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Edo state on Thursday dismissed the allegation by Governor Godwin Obaseki that the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole participated in the mock governorship primary held in Benin.
The APC leaders described Obasaki as a serial liar for blaming Oshiomhole for the spike of COVID-19 cases in Edo state following the conduct of the said shadow primary.
Vowing to remove the incumbent governor from office, the party leaders observed that rather than blame others for the problems facing the state including his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, Obaseki should point out what his administration has done with the N350billion revenue that accrued to the state.
A statement issued on Thursday, by the all gubernatorial aspirants and other party stakeholders, the APC leaders distanced Oshiomhole from the mock primary, just as they debunked claims by Obaseki’s administration that the party jeopardized the efforts to curtail the spread of the pandemic by flouting the ban on large gatherings issued by the state government.
“We vehemently deny any involvement of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in our activities. We also state emphatically that there was no crowded meeting of 20 persons or more by this body of APC leaders anywhere in Edo state in recent time.
“We hereby challenge Governor Godwin Obaseki to prove his allegation of a crowded meeting of more than 50 persons by releasing a video of such event,” the APC leaders declared.
They described the attempt by the Obaseki’s administration to drag Oshiomhole’s name into the activities APC members in Edo state as blackmail and disrespectful of the national chairman, whose excellent performance while in government remains the selling point for the party in the state.
“Contrary to the resort to personalised attacks by Gov. Obaseki on the APC national chairman, who is not contesting any election, we are confronting Obaseki with evidence of bad governance, embezzlement of state funds, destruction of democratic culture, wicked demonization of those on whose backs he rose to power and systematic destruction of APC that brought him to power.
“As at April 2020, Edo state under Obaseki has netted about N350 billion from the federation account, internally generated revenue, bail- out funds, Paris Club refund and enhanced by exchange rate.
“There is not a single project worthy of commissioning aa Obaseki moves towards the end of his tenure.
“Even in the current fight against COVID-19, he does not care about the sufferings of the people, but is busy converting the opportunity for embezzlement, embarking on political campaigns under the guise of sensitization campaigns against the coronavirus.
“Till today, there is no lockdown in Edo state in order to avoid spending on palliatives. Yet, he moved markets to school premises in the entire state with a promise to fumigate the markets statewide.
“No fumigation has been carried out and the school premises are fast becoming refuse dumps. Huge crowds are crammed into whatever space in the schools without social distancing.
“He ordered people to wear face-masks but his government did not provide any for the poor masses. The number of infected people is growing exponentially, he doesn’t care,” the APC leaders added.
Kano mobile courts convict 717 lockdown violators
The Kano state judiciary said no fewer than 717 violators of the presidential lockdown have been arrested and convicted from Sunday to Wednesday in Kano.
Public Relations Officer of the state ministry of justice, Mr. Baba Jibo, who disclosed this in Kano, said some imams were also arrested and punished for leading Juma’at prayer at Minjibir Local Govenment Area of the state.
According to him, five Hummer jeeps and a truck were intercepted by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state at Kwanan Dangora, along Zaria Road, with each offender fined N150, 000 for violating the order.
The 11 mobile courts were recently established by the state government to enforce the compliance of the stay at home order.
Jibo explained that the two imams arrested were ordered to pay N10, 000 each and also sweep the premises of the district head of Minjibir for one week.
According to Jibo, those imams would be escorted by the officials of the correctional service in the area, adding that some of the violators were also given community service punishments to sweep some selected areas, while others were flogged.
He revealed that some were instructed to embark on sensitisation of their community on the effect of the coronavirus disease.
“Another lady was arrested for violating the order and also harassing security men and the mobile court officials on duty.
“Apart from the fine she paid after conviction, she was ordered to go and sweep the premises of the Correctional Service Centre for one week.” Jibo stated.
He explained that since the inauguration of the mobile courts on Monday, which began operations on Tuesday, the courts had so far punished 1,252 violators.
