By Ishaya Ibrahim
There was tension in Benin City as hundreds of youths believed to be members of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) stormed the busy Airport Road in protest of the party’s lingering crisis, factionalisation and alleged imposition of leadership on the people.
The angry youths blocked the two sides of the Airport Road, setting burn-fire, thereby causing serious traffic logjam and panic in the state capital, while motorists sought alternative routes out of the area.
The protesting youths also set burn-fire around Golf Course, Akenzua junction and along Akenzua Road in Benin metropolis, thereby disrupting human and vehicular movement.
The youths, however, opened one side of the road to traffic when the representative of the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, persuaded those who barricaded the main gate of Benin Airport to allow for free flow of traffic.
He had pleaded, “I am here because of you people. I heard there is a protest here. That is why the Commissioner of Police sent me to find out what the problem is. I am the Area Commander in-Charge of this area. Blocking of the high way is a criminal offence, we appeal to you to open the highway for people to pass. We have instructed the police not to arrest anyone.”
One of the protesters, Lucky Ehimen, who spoke with journalists, charged the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to stop meddling in the state’s politics and concentrate on national issues.
“Oshiomhole should leave us alone in the state and allow us to live in peace as Governor Godwin Obaseki has performed excellently well and the youths in the State are happy with his performance and want him to continue in office. We will not allow any imposition of the leadership of the party in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has suspended the planned rally by a faction of the APC in the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, disclosed this after meeting with IGP Adamu at the Police headquarters, Abuja.
A letter from the office of the IGP in response to the application by the State Government to suspend the rally for security reasons read, “I am directed by the Inspector General of Police to convey his warmest regards and to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency letter ODG.134/59 of December 12, 2019, on the above-underlined subject.
“In cognisance of the security consequences of the proposed mega rally, I am to confirm that the Inspector General of Police has directed the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command to emplace appropriate security framework that is directed at suspending the rally until further notice.
“He has also been directed to summon a meeting of all parties involved in the political development with a view to engaging them towards giving effect to his directives in overriding internal security interest.
“I am to renew the assurances of the highest regards of the Inspector General of Police to Your Excellency, please.”
The letter dated December 12, was signed by ACP Idowu Owohunwa Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police.
The Deputy Governor said that some persons wanted to destabilize peace that was enjoyed in the state, but maintained that the Governor Godwin Obaseki–led government will remain focused.
He alleged that “the man leading the division in the state, unfortunately, is the national chairman of the APC.”
He, however, said that he would not join issues with Oshiomhole, who he described as his mentor and father.