A group dominated by Edo leaders on Friday, July 19, 2024 expressed concern over an assassination attempt targeting the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The group, Edo Unity Front (EUF), in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Dr Pius Akugbe, said: “We are shattered by this terrible event. The assassination plot underlined the desperation of forces which retard progress in Edo State to promote violence and retain power at all costs.’’
The leaders, in the statement issued in Benin described the assassination attempt as inhuman, ruthless and barbaric.
‘’It is organized terrorism against the APC candidate and a challenge to the electorate. The day of reckoning is at hand,” the group said, and urged the police and other security agencies to devise counter measures that will make it impossible for the forces of despotism to carry out their sinister designs of eliminating APC chieftains in Edo State.
‘’The assassination attempt is inextricably interwoven into the state ruling party’s assault on political opponents and progressive minded intellectuals in Edo State,” they said, while praising Okpebholo for providing the necessary leadership towards conquering the ruling party at the polls in September.
“We can see that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are having sleepless nights. History is on the side of Senator Monday Okpebholo and the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the side of history,” the statement stressed.
The group urged the police to bring the hired thugs and hoodlums to light for prosecution, vehemently condemning what they see as the ascendancy of evil in Edo State.
EUF, on the other hand, hailed Okpebholo’s great leadership qualities, courage, integrity and sense of high purpose, noting that the APC candidate’s vision for Edo State which “is to catapult the state into a hopeful and prosperous place for the people.’’
‘The death of the police officer is a great loss to Nigeria and the family. We extend to the Inspector General of Police and the family of the police officer our most heartfelt sympathy’’ the statement added.
