The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) on Sunday accused the state’s police command of performing in manners that implies that they’re a wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
PDP mentioned the police within the state most popular to take care of points raised by the APC and its brokers whereas disregarding complaints by different actors within the polity.
Chairman of the get together in Edo State, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi made the accusation whereas addressing journalists in Benin, the place he famous that a couple of weeks in the past, the Deputy Director Normal, Media and Publicity of the PDP Election Marketing campaign Council, Reverend Olu Martins, was invited and arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Drive primarily based on a petition written towards him.
The ruling get together within the state mentioned this portends an ominous signal for the forthcoming governorship election within the state.
He defined that Martins was subsequently arraigned in Courtroom and granted bail after assembly the mandatory bail circumstances set by the trial Choose and the case was subsequently adjoined.
Dr. Aziegbemi disclosed that quite the opposite, because the chairman of the PDP in Edo State, he wrote a petition over feedback by the chairman of the State’s chapter of the APC the place he threatened to mobilise and lead youths to stone the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
He described the utterance as a transparent recipe for violence and chaos within the State, given the sensitivity of the Workplace of the Governor, including {that a} video proof of the risk and an accompanying petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State.
“Surprisingly, no motion has been taken on the matter because the petition was submitted, not like the swift method during which the Police responded to the petition towards the Deputy Director Normal, Media and Publicity for the PDP Marketing campaign Council.
“On Thursday, July 18, thugs linked to the APC unleashed mayhem on harmless residents alongside the Benin Airport Street, within the guise of welcoming the impeached Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu and the governorship candidate of the APC, Monday Okphebholo.
“The following chaos led to the destruction of property of legislation abiding members of the general public and the unlucky dying of a police officer.
“There are video proof and a newspaper publication of this incident which clearly recognized thugs and members of the APC who carried out this wanton destruction of property and breach of public peace.
“A petition, to which all of the proof was connected, was once more submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, sadly and predictably, the police commissioner has did not act on this petition, and not one of the folks has been arrested.
“Somewhat, they’ve deployed a tactical staff of policemen to arrest and harass no less than 22 members and leaders of the PDP in Edo State, who’re at present below heavy surveillance, in reference to the mentioned public disturbance of Thursday, July 18, although there isn’t a proof to indicate that they had been on the scene of the mentioned occasion,” he mentioned.
Aziegbemi added that the police, from their actions and inactions within the wake of the developments in Edo State, “look like performing a script in selective justice, preferring and never selecting the petitions over which it acts, preferring reasonably to be higher disposed to consideration to petitions raised by the APC.
“We are going to prefer to stress that the Police is funded with taxpayers’ cash and is obligated to behave in manners that protect public peace, making certain that everybody has equal and unhindered accecs to justice. We’re involved about this sample of abuse of justice dangerously perpetuated by the Nigeria Police Drive, particularly within the run-up to the September 21 governorship election”, the PDP chairman said.
He mentioned the preferential conduct portends a reasonably disturbing development that have to be checked within the curiosity of peace within the state, and enjoined the police to maintain to its skilled mandate and never act as an instrument within the palms of determined politicians who’re hell-bent on destroying the state in pursuit of their seltfish ends.
“We name on the Inspector Normal of Police to make use of his good places of work and formations to make sure that the precise criminals are dropped at ebook as towards the harmless members of society being accused unjustly. The precise criminals are parading the streets freely and bragging about, that nothing can occur to them so long as they belong to the ruling get together APC”, Aziegbemi alleged.
He, due to this fact, known as on the IGP to safeguard and uphold democracy and be seen to guard the rule of legislation within the state, including that Nigeria belongs to all its residents and the fitting of membership of associations is assured by the Structure.
When contacted for response, the Edo Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye mentioned, “The circumstances are in Abuja now, so any enquiry ought to go to the Drive CID”.