Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former head of state, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hunt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters in the state and force them into hiding ahead of September 21 governorship election.
Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former head of state, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.
The governor said that the police chief obtained a warrant to arrest 60 members and supporters of PDP in Edo and that the IGP sent an armed “gang” of policemen who invaded the state, attacked PDP members, shot at a local government chairman and arrested 10 persons who are currently being detained in Abuja without charges.
Asked by the former head of state if his party would sign the peace accord, Obaseki said, “The person who is supposed to enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.
“We are now in a situation where from the Inspector General’s office, there are armed gang policemen who came into Edo State, invaded, arrested and took away PDP members.
“As I speak, there are about 10 in detention in Abuja without trial. Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairman.
“This local government chairman was going back home and he was attacked and shot at. He reported and the police said he should come to give evidence, he came and they arrested him. As I speak, he is locked up.”
According to the governor, “Even if offences were committed in Edo State, why would you not charge the offences here and try them here? Why take them to Abuja? Are these offences of high treason? And in Abuja, why not charge them to court in Abuja?”
He said “The IGP’s office came and obtained a warrant to arrest 60 PDP supporters. They are essentially driving all our leaders into hiding.
“My role as chief security officer is being made nonsense of by the IGP, because I heard that someone was arrested and I called the commissioner and I said, look into it and let me know, he said ‘I will come back to you sir’, and he just ignored me and didn’t say anything till the following morning and he moved that person to Abuja.
“And I speak, they are all there. How can we then sign a peace accord? Because clearly what they are saying is that it is going to be a very violent election and they are going to use the forces of coercion and intimidation to win the election by hook or crook.
“We have no confidence that the police are going to protect us in this election.”
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