Speaking at the ceremony that was attended by thousands of party members, well-wishers and friends, Oshiomhole asked the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, to apologise to the people of Edo State for the lapses recorded in the council election.
The governor particularly warned the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, to desist from undermining the state government by deliberately contravening its laws. Oshiomhole’s words: “There is evidence that he has undermined the prosperity of this state for a very long time.
Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones.” Furthermore, the governor said; “I want to send a note of warning to Chief Igbinedion that he should take it easy.
He has acquired a lot of government land that the people have not engaged him on. He walks as if he is above the law. He was a chief tax collector in this state, pocketing 25 to 30 per cent of every kobo that accrued while his son was the governor.
“I have not looked back because my mandate is to look forward. I want to put him on notice that if he continues with elderly rascality, I will bring him to justice. He must never ever underestimate the fact that I have the will and I have the capacity to deploy that will. If he crosses the law, he will be cut to size. Elders must teach the younger ones to behave responsibly.”
He continued: “You know how he is using ITV in a very reckless manner in a clear breach of the NBC code. He reduced himself from a high chief to a thug, leaving where he was registered to vote and going all the way to Okada on a day movement was restricted across the state.
“He got to Okada and illegally used riot policemen to guard him on the streets; going to the police station where sensitive election materials were kept in other to vandalise them, to ensure election did not take place.
“How can Gabriel Igbinedion, who claims to be Esama of Benin, be leading the way for thuggery in Okada? If he misleads himself into believing that he has the birth right to continue to appropriate and privatize the resources of Edo State, he is living in a fool’s paradise.
“Edo money will never flow into Igbinedion’s house any more. That can’t happen again. Okada people have complained about how Charles Igbinedion, as a local government chairman, privatised the resources of the local government council and transferred them to the house of Igbinedion with nothing to show for it.
We tolerate him because as they say, who are we to do the work of God? God will do justice to those who are in the wrong places.”
Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Hon. Thomas Okosun, has described the leaders of the PDP in the state as failed politicians who knew that they were not going to win the local government election in the state.
The party said the PDP plotted to disrupt the election because they know they can’t win, saying, “as hard as they tried, they could not stop what God has willed.” The party said it was to the credit of the government that those materials were printed outside Nigeria and the materials were not delivered secretly by EDSIEC.
Somebody should put igbinedion in his place. You will think he is the king of Benin, he is not above the law.
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