8th October, 2014
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The leadership of Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have continued to trade words over the deadly attack on the suspended PDP lawmaker in the state, Razaq Momoh.
Momoh who was attacked on Tuesday night by unknown assailants at the state legislative quarters in GRA, Benin, is still lying critically ill at the accident and emergency unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
State Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih in a statement on Wednesday, said the party was gravely worried by the deteriorating security situation in the state occasioned by the alleged heightening political intolerance by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to opposing political views.
“PDP is alarmed by the Tuesday night attack by loyalists of Governor Oshiomhole of an elected member of the state Assembly, Hon. Razaq Momoh. Apparently, Hon. Momoh’s sin is that he dumped Oshiomhole’s APC for the PDP.
“We strongly condemn this bestial attack which is a reflection of the growing desperation of the Oshiomhole APC-led administration in the face of its fast dwindling political support. In a democracy, the right to freedom of association is sacred and must be respected by all.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police to bring to book all those involved in the dastardly act of the near-assasination of Hon. Razak Momoh.
“Edo PDP sympathize with the Hon. Momoh and his family on the very unfortunate attack. We appeal to our members to remain calm and be law-abiding in the face of the unwarranted attacks by goons of the APC, while we await official police action on the matter.
Orbih urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to rise above party lines and become governor of all, and advised him to stop all manner of incivility and persecution of persons who do not subscribe to his political ideology and actions.
“We fervently pray for the speedy recovery of Hon. Razaq Momoh, and pray that this be the last of the barbaric attacks by APC goons.
But reacting to PDP’s attack on the APC and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the State Chairman of APC, Barrister Anslem Ojezua said violence was not the character of APC and Governor Oshiomhole.
“Violence is not the charater of APC or Oshiomhole. Even when Momoh left the party instead of resorting to physical combat, the party went to court. Momoh is the one who has the history of violence. I recalled that at a time he was caught with fire arms and he still facing court action.
“There is no way the governor could stoop so low to send people to attack Momoh because all through his trade union days there was no record of him taking arms against anybody. As far as I am concerned, what ever happened at the legislators’ quarters should be left purely to the legislators. The governor and the party should not be dragged into this matter,” he said.
Trouble had started when Momoh in company of his aides tried to gain entry into his official residence in the Legislative quarter at about 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday but they were denied entry by security operatives at the gate, as some legislators were reportedly holding meeting at the quarters at the time.
In the process, he was said to have scaled the fence into the quarters and forcefully opened the gate for his entourage, an action which was said to have resulted in a free for all between his men and the security men who later were assisted by other persons.
During the melee, according to en eye witness, Momoh’s followers abandoned him when they were overpowered, paving way for the assailants to deal with him.
Momoh who represets Etsako constituency 1 in the House, was among four lawmakers suspended by the leadership of the House of Assembly over his failure to resume duties at the old Assembly chamber at the Government House where the Assembly relocated to pave way for renovation of the Anthony Enahoro Assembly complex at the King’s Square.
The House also declared his seat vacant on September 1 this year, following his failure to perform his Legislative duties.
He was formally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before he defected last April along with other chieftains to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
When contacted, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, who appealed to politicians in the state not to overheat the polity in the state, said he had visited the lawmaker at the hospital, describing the incident as very unfortunate.
“It is very unfortunate that such incident should happen in a legislators’ quarters. Those involved would be brought to book, no matter how highly placed,” Adebanjo said.
He confirmed that arrests have been made, but declined to give the number of persons arrested.