By Seyi Babalola
All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, over alleged sponsorship of a smear campaign against APC’s governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The APC said the PDP, Obaseki and Ighodalo have suddenly become desperate, over fears that they will suffer a humiliating defeat in the upcoming governorship polls.
It said a faceless group, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, had recently held a press conference and also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others, alleging that Okpebholo sprayed the naira at a public function.
In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by the national coordinator of APC Vanguard, a group within the APC, David Osarobo, wondered why “desperate Obaseki and his political godson, Ighodalo”, will resort to character assassination in order to score cheap political points.
He said the so-called leaders of the civil society were heavily induced to tarnish the image of Okpebholo, whose popularity they said, has hit the roofs since his emergence as the candidate of the APC.
He said as a private and public person, Okpebholo has never sprayed or mutilated the naira, insisting that the video agents of the governor and PDP members are sharing on social media does not belong to Senator Okpebholo
Osarobo revealed that in Okpebholo’s over 50 years on earth, he has never been arrested by the police for any civil or criminal offences, and wondered why the PDP and its agents will fabricate fake news to tarnish his image ahead of the election where he is favoured to win in the polls.
Osarobo warned those behind the rumoured petition and State agents to apologise for misleading Edo people. He also called on the IGP to investigate the faces behind the petition and prosecute them accordingly.
Osarobo said: “Emperor Godwin Obaseki, the crisis-ridden PDP and their novice candidate, Ighodalo, have decided to resort to cheap blackmail. They know that they will lose the election and they are jittery.
“They are scouting for fake news and non-existent things to blackmail Okpebholo and lie to Edo people. Unfortunately for them, we know what they are up to. They are smelling the defeat already. Edo people have already decided and no amount of State-sponsored intimidation will work.
“We have it on good authority that the faceless group was heavily induced financially by Edo State Government. Let the State Government deny the claims. The leaders of the group were bribed.
“Unfortunately for them, the people can see the clearly, the handwriting on the wall. Their plans will fail. We will remain focused and ensure that our candidate wins.
“In Edo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC administration is working. The Federal Government is reconstructing federal roads in Edo Central, Edo North and Edo South. The APC-led Federal Government is planning to implement other social welfare programmes in Edo State.
“That is why it is imperative for Edo people to take sides with the APC and vote for Okpebholo as the next governor of Edo State. We will bring the Federal Government closer to Edo people. We have been isolated for too long and it is time to end that alienation.
“There is no going back. We must liberate Edo State from the grip of mini tyrants and economic scavengers who want to use our commonwealth to enrich themselves. Edo State deserves a home-grown solution to the many problems created by Obaseki’s clueless administration.
“In the coming days, our Campaign Organisation will unveil our plans for Edo people. We will focus on key areas that will uplift the lives of the people. Education, healthcare, agriculture, security, tourism, food security and economic development, among others, will take the centre stage when we take over in November.
“I call on Edo people to ignore the new distraction the PDP and their agents are trying to promote. ‘Edo no dey carry last’. We are smart and no one can deceive us, including Obaseki, who has failed the people.”
