With large-scale rejection and resignations facing the Godwin Obaseki-led government across Edo state, the All Progressives Party (APC) has cried out about a plot by the state government to fully deploy its instrument of repression to more targeted supporters of the APC, who have been listed for kidnapping until after the election. This plot, according to the APC Media campaign Council, has been activated with the disappearance of Mr. Eric Imarhiagbe, a chieftain of the APC in ward 9, Egor local government area of the state.
“We learnt the state government has recruited and armed some hoodlums to execute these dirty jobs”, APC feared. Continuing, the added, “we also gathered that these masked abductors are in concert with the police in their bid to carry out their oppressive acts of kidnapping and statewide abductions.” According to APC, “APC has been raising the alarm every time we got wind of PDP’s plans to visit violence on our people, but nobody believed us. Now they have kidnapped a party chieftain, Mr Eric Imarhiagbe. Some people knew him as Baroko. He was kidnapped yesterday by gunmen. Note that this is just 9 days to the election. Let it be known that APC condemns this reprehensible and devilish conduct. We have it on good information that the gunmen were escorted by men dressed in the outfit of security forces so it’s either they are complicit or they are being impersonated.
“We also know that the inhuman act of oppression, intimidation and disenfranchisement is an attempt to ensure APC party chieftains, youth leaders, ward chairmen, women leaders and leaders are prevented from exercising their franchise and mobilizing to ensure Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu wins the forthcoming September 19th election.
“Mr Imarhiagbe is a son of Edo state like any of us; he has a right to support any party he wants, he belongs to a family too and if we do not stop them, who knows who the PDP will kidnap next? It could have been your children, your spouse or your friends. We, the APC family, call on the perpetrators to release Imarhiagbe, the leader of Concerned Integrity youth group, unharmed. We also use this noble opportunity to call on security agencies, the Nigeria police, DSS and other security apparatus to swing into action with the aim of releasing Imarhiagbe unharmed”.
APC said, “this abduction is the latest in a series of targeted violence at the APC across the state without arresting the culprits. Besides, where there are arrests, Governor Godwin Obaseki and agents, like Kabiru Adjoto, are quick to approach the courts to effect the bail of the culprits or get an order restraining the arrest of the suspects.
“It is worrisome to see that this Stalinist N.K.V.D. methods are being applied in the 21st century by Edo State Government, signalling the fully blown dictator in Godwin Obaseki, who had in a viral video threatened to deal with the opposition since he enjoys immunity with his Deputy, Philip Shaibu”.
