We have no thugs to deploy – Okowa On September 10, 201610:23 pm

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State is used to verbal attacks from Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Since the governor dethroned the former ruling party in 2012, committed leaders of the PDP in the state have been defending themselves from allegations bordering on corruption, violence, electoral fraud amongst others. The latest allegation from the governor that the party had mobilized about 8,000 militants from some states in the Niger Delta area to vote in Edo and perpetrate violence during the rescheduled governorship election slated for September 28, however, took the party by surprise. In a reaction, Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih, described the allegation as baseless, adding that Oshiomhole has once again shown that he has the penchant for making unsubstantiated allegations. He said, “I find it disgusting that the governor could indict security agencies in the manner he has just done. I mean it is serious indictment on the security agencies to say that 8000 militants could quietly walk into Edo from Port Harcourt and Delta State without being detected. Okowa Okowa “I see this allegation as a pointer to the fact that the governor is an incurable liar. He has gone further to accuse governors of Rivers and Delta states of providing N2 billion donation. He is talking as if he is talking to a gathering of illiterates. “N2 billion is not N2 million nor N20, 000. Nobody can carry N2 billion in a briefcase. The only way to do that is through electronic transfer. As far as I know, our accounts are there for everyone to see. We have not received any contribution of even N2 million from any governor. “I challenge him to show evidence of his claims because each time I accuse him of fraud, I always come out with government vouchers signed by him to substantiate whatever I said.” Also reacting, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State described as alarmist the allegation credited to the Edo governor. Okowa, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said Oshiomhole’s allegation is not only reckless but also childish and unfounded as the Delta governor does not own or sponsor militants or thugs. He said: “We reject this accusation as alarmist in conception, reckless in delivery, puerile in content and false in facts, and so fit only for kindergarten’s tales by moonlight”. The governor recalled a similar development in 2012, “when Oshiomhole surprised the whole nation by raising an alarm on election day against the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it was about to rig the election in favour of the opposition”, adding: “It turned out to be hoax as he won his re-election bid. He was to later childishly explain his gaffe as just being proactive. “Ordinarily, we are weary of joining issues with, not just a next door neighbor governor, but also of a state which together with Delta, has shared such a long and enviable social, political and economic history from the old days Mid-West Region to that of the now defunct Bendel State. Oshiomhole is known for making wide, unsubstantiated and curious allegations and this is something of a trademark peculiar to him. If a man is gifted with the power of oratory, he must be careful to avoid a descent into suffering from diarrhoea of the mouth. “It beats one hollow that Oshiomhole would, in his wide imagination, come up with such a curious allegation that a state in this country will just dole out one billion Naira in cash and to imagine the other logistics of embarking on ‘exporting militants’ to another state. “Much as Governor Okowa, as a faithful party member, will support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he certainly has better things to channel One Billion Naira into. And just for the record, Governor Okowa does not owe salaries. We wish to warn that the good people of Edo and Delta have come a very long way. Oshiomhole should not in the name of politics sow a seed of discord, suspicion and bitterness in their minds before leaving office. “He now has 18 more days to work for his candidate and party, we advise he faces it squarely and stop this impolitic of mudslinging and campaign of calumny”

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