
AGENE GODWIN, Benin
The state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih Wednesday in Benin City said that the party will embark on a peaceful street protest over the wanton and unwarranted arrest of members of the party in the state merely because they are members of PDP.
Orbih addressing supporters at a campaign rally held at the Depot at Ogbeson quarters near Benin City, said the recent situation in Okada, Ovia northeast local government area where 13 PDP youths were arrested on trumped up charges is unacceptable.
It will be recalled that two weeks ago the youths from Egbeta, a rural community near Okada were arraigned before a customary court by the state attorney- general for assault and threat to public peace and for reportedly assaulting a civil commissioner.
But hardly had they been arraigned before the Court on these charges than the state attorney- general and Commissioner for Justice substituted the charges against them midstream.
“This very week is the last we will allow the Edo state attorney- general to change the charges against our members midstream. If it happens again we will take to the streets to protest the arrest of PDP members by the APC government”, Orbih declared.
In a related development, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Edo state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has promised a better equipped accident and disaster response machinery in the state if elected governor.
He said under his SIMPLE agenda, he plans to provide enough functional ambulances in all of the eighteen local government areas and in strategic communities as part of efforts at quick response to disasters in the state.
The candidate was addressing the annual accident, disaster management and leadership training of the Red Cross in Edo state held at the Divine Wisdom Educational Complex at Oghe-ghe in Ikpoba – okha local government area of the state.
“We will assist the Red Cross with regular subventions that will enable them engage in regular training programmes for their members locally and even internationally”.
According to Ize-Iyamu, who is an associate member of the Red Cross who was the only governorship candidate who attended the event out of the 19 in the state, the role of Red Cross cannot be ignored in any society hence government must partner with them.
Ize-Iyamu who was also endorsed Wednesday as the candidate of the Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria, Edo state branch at a meeting held at their Igbesanwan Street secretariat in Benin City assured traders of the state of an economic environment where they will be able to make enough profit.
He said it was only in such atmosphere that was conducive for businesses to thrive that government can be confident to introduce taxes that are humane and realistic and in the interest of the business community.
He then assured the traders that if elected governor he would review the existing tax regime in the state to remove multiple and punitive taxes and facilitate access for them to small and medium scale enterprises loan facilities for businesses in the state.