Edo APC Calls For Immediate Sack Of CP Adegboye Over Attack On Okpebholo, Shaibu
By Simeon OSAJJIE
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter, today Friday 19th July called for the immediate sack of Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Funsho Adegboye of complicity in yesterday Thursday attack on its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the reinstated deputy governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu.
Recall that gunmen attacked the two on Thursday while exiting Benin Airport shortly after they arrived from Abuja aboard a chartered flight.
The9JaTREND reports that Kassim Afegbua, Dirtector of Media, APC Campaign Council for the September 21, gubernatorial election, during a press conference in Benin, called for the sack of the police commissioner, Mr. Funsho Adegboye.
According to him, the ruthless shooting and killing of a police officer was witnessed by the state commissioner of police.
Afegbua said the party had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to look into the case and check how the police commissioner undermined the role of the police.
He noted: “Some members of the party, who saw the commissioner at the airport shared the intelligence of what was about to happen, but unfortunately, he ignored it.
“It is disheartening to observe that while the ruthless shootings were going on, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Funso Adeboye was on ground at the Benin Airport and he did nothing to repel the vicious attack which led to death of one of his officers.
“As fate would have it, it was our candidate’s Police aide that was killed, our candidate and Mr. Philip Shaibu missed death by the whisker.
“From eye witness account, it is very clear that some of these hoodlums are members of the Edo Vigilante Netwotk who were fully knitted in their uniforms.
“Indeed, is it very striking to observe that under the watchful eyes of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, one of his serving officers was killed without any iota of concern from him indicative of the grand design by him in connivance with the State Governor and the PDP Candidate Barr. Asue Ighodalo.
“The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command has willfully undermined the responsibility placed on him by law that is protection of lives and property within his jurisdiction as he has become the puppet of the Governor from whom he takes politically minded instructions.
“As at today, Edo State is in a state of unassumable lawlessness occasioned by the non-control of the source of weapons been paraded by members of Edo State Vigilante Network whom are recruited without any formal training,” said Afegbua.
The Director of Media described the attack on the candidate as an assassination attempt and disdain for peace that the state and its people was known for.
But reacting, the commissioner of police exonerated himself of any wrongdoing during the mayhem.
He refuted a claim that intelligence was shared with him ahead of the attack, saying there was no any crisis throughout his stay at the airport.
“I had information that some people gathered at the airport, supporters and I went in there because our goal is to maintain law and order. Where we discover we have a crowd, we will go there. So we were there, myself and my men and it was after these people left the airport that we learnt about the shooting which led to the death of the inspector.
“Nobody gave me any intelligence of what was about to happen. There was no single incidence at the premises of the airport,” he said
The commissioner noted, however, that investigation was ongoing and those whose names had been mentioned in the incident would be arrested soon.
