Rights activist and President of the One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor(aka Ultimate Equals), has been engaged in a crossfire talk with one Comrade Robinson Akhenoba, who goes by the alias Political Evangelist, believed to be a surrogate of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu over the hoarding of petroleum products.
In his attack on Eholor, Akhenoba, who accused the rights activist of ‘public incitement’ said: “Our attention has been drawn to a fallacious report by one Patrick Eholor, a.k.a Ultimate Equal, to the effect that a petrol station on Airport Road, Benin City, belonging to Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has been sealed by the Petroleum Monitoring Task Force.
“The same character has been peddling rumours that the Deputy Governor owns a number of petrol stations in Benin City. To say the least, this reckless and unfounded claim is malicious, capable of inciting the public against the person and office of the Edo State Deputy Governor, especially at this time of fuel price deregulation.
“We do not dignify rumour peddlers with responses, as it is not in our character to react to fabricated stories like the one being bandied around by Eholor.
“However, it is expedient to set the records straight in the interest of discerning members of the public, so that they are not misinformed by misguided elements like Eholor.
“For the records, neither the Deputy Governor nor any member of his family owns any petrol station on Airport Road in Benin City.
“We will also like to debunk the insinuation by Eholor that the Governor and his Deputy are not in good terms. This is another lie being spewed from the infertile mind of Eholor, out of his imaginations.
“Without mincing words, we want to say clearly that the relationship between Mr. Governor and his Deputy is very cordial and robust. Indeed, they relate with each other like brothers and not on the basis Governor/Deputy in running the affairs of Edo State.
“Arising from the foregoing, members of the public are enjoined to disregard the lies being spinned by Eholor.
“Rather, we plead that they sympathise with him as an idle and evil minded old man seeking cheap public attention. This misguided adventure on his part is nothing but a deliberate attempt to smear the person and integrity of the Deputy Governor which we view with all seriousness.”
Responding Eholor stated: “Dear Political Evangelist. I know you were either paid to do this or you just one of those clout chasers looking for cheap favour but unfortunately you just picked on the wrong person.
“To start with how do you debunk claims without verifiable evidence? Who do you think you are deceiving? Obviously some of your few followers and not Edo people as they are wiser.
“Edo people are not ignorant when it comes to governance and assets, so kindly go back to your drawing board and counter all my claims with evidence until then myself (Ultimate Equal) and yourself are no match.
“Even in the villages in Edo State most people are already aware of the fact that the Edo State Deputy Governor owns a fuelling station, this claim is not what you can wake up one morning to erase from the minds of the people.
“Does he have a fuel station in Benin? Yes.
Does that fuel station sell at the approved pump price? No
“Now to the issue of the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. Edo people are also aware that the cordial relationship both of them do have was thrown into the tin air when Philip Shaibu gave Edo State Governor $300,000 for governorship ticket unfortunately Governor Godwin Obaseki denied him of the position and now again the issue between them is as a result of the upcoming local government election of which both of them are not supporting the same candidate.
“If we are to be sincere in the above subject matter, it will be more factual to say that you Comrade Robinson Akhenoba is the one who is an idle and evil minded old man chasing clout in order to get cheap favour from the Deputy Governor.
“I have no issues with Comrade Philip Shaibu. He is my friend and my brother and as a matter of fact we both flew to Abuja some days ago and we had a pleasurable discussion onboard.
“The truth hurts a lot but regardless we must continue to speak truth into power. Leaders lead by example he should sell his fuel by the regulator price.”
Edo Deputy Gov, rights activist in bitter exchange over hoarding of fuel
