Edo government alleges plot to attack critical infrastructure

Ighodalo charges Edo people to vote PDP
The Deputy Director General, Media and Publicity of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Olu Martins, yesterday, raised the alarm about an impending plot to attack critical infrastructure and legacy projects in Edo State by suspected thugs recruited by the opposition party.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, Martins said that gathered intelligence exposed the plot by the opposition party to attack and destroy critical infrastructure in the state, particularly the State Civil Service Secretariat Complex and the Benin City Mall, which are legacy projects of the Godwin Obaseki government.

He called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agencies to beef up security around the facilities to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

Martins said that the Obaseki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government is not unmindful of the planned attacks on critical infrastructure by the opposition party under the guise of nationwide protest against hunger.

He said: “We have credible information that the plan is to attack the Benin City Mall and the Edo Civil Service Secretariat Complex, as well as a couple of other infrastructure. The plan is to destroy and burn the property.”

He noted that the infrastructure being targeted by the opposition party belongs to Edo people and not the governor.

“We are bringing this to the notice of Edo people and the media so that the security agencies can be on red alert. Everybody must be on red alert. Because we have noticed that the opposition party has not bothered themselves about what they will do for Edo people.

“The sound bites that you hear on a daily basis are the ones that come from Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and they are progressives,” Martin said.

On his part, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said that the planned attack on government facilities is a ploy by the opposition to get the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Edo after the nationwide protest.

MEANWHILE, the PDP candidate in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Ighodalo, yesterday, stormed Ovia South West as the party’s ward to ward campaign got underway.

As the Ighodalo’s campaign train continued to cruise through the length and breadth of the state canvassing for votes, the people of Ugbogui and Evobongbon rose in unison to declare their total support for the governorship candidate and the PDP in the forthcoming election.

In his opening remarks, the PDP Local Council Chairman, Ihaguebor Ajiki, welcomed the PDP campaign team and the governorship candidate to the council, urging supporters to vote massively for the candidate, saying that only the PDP can bring true development to them.