By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo Central Senatorial candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. John Yakubu has accused the state’s ruling party of destroying his campaign billboard in Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area while speaking as a guest on a live Monday morning program on Independent Television and Radio (ITV), Benin City.
Hon. Yakubu alleged that suspected thugs loyal to the ruling APC vandalized his billboard. He noted that his suspicion stems from the fact that only his side of a double-sided board was targeted, while his APC opponent’s side remained untouched.
“Just recently about few days ago, my senatorial campaign billboard was destroyed by suspected thugs whom I believed are members of the ruling APC in the state.
“I say this because the same billboard has two faces. Why my billboard is being destroyed by the same APC people, the other side of the billboard carry the billboard of my opponent in APC.
“So what we are saying is that at the beginning of this untowards action, I want to use this opportunity to speak to the chairman of APC in the state that other parties should be allowed space to operate. This was exactly what the Catholic Bishops saw, and they went to the president to say look – allow the opposition breath.
“Look at what has just happened to my billboard across the senatorial district but what they fail to understand is that you really don’t need this physical billboard, John Yakubu’s billboard is in the mind of Esan nation both home and in the Diaspora.
“So whether you go to destroy my billboard, the Esan nation they have my billboard in their mind and in their heart. So, I want to appeal to the chairman of APC once again. Please, violence is not the way to go. Please talk to your overzealous members who are going about my senatorial district pulling down my billboard. They have their billboard. They should allow us space to operate.
“The present governor of the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo was in the opposition party when he won his seat to the senatorial district. Nobody pulled down his billboard. That is not the character of the Esan people. ” he said.
Reacting to the allegation leveled against APC, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae Esq, explained that the APC leadership can not send people to go and destroy the opposition political parties billboards.
“We do not condone violence as a party. And the chairman, in his own right, cannot send people to go and destroyed billboard. What is the political value of that? We believe that we must create an atmosphere of conviviality with other political parties, So, let the man be inward-looking. Let him scrutinize his people. Because, of course, in his area, he has his own enemies.”