The Edo State government says it has uncovered an alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to infiltrate the #EndBadGovernance protests in the State with hoodlums, to attack and destroy key public infrastructure in Benin City, the State capital.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, alerting security agencies in Edo State to the clandestine plot, the government alleged that the ‘uncovered plans’ “are being perfected by chieftains of the APC to use the pretext of the protest to vandalise government buildings and cause mayhem in order to advance their obnoxious political pursuit.”
“Our findings have shown that the Secretariat Complex, the Benin Shopping Mall, the Edo Production Centre and the Ossiomo Power Company have been penciled down for attacks,” the statement read, in part.
“The plan, we have learned, is that the attacks will take the public by surprise and the protesters would be blamed for the destruction of property, allowing the APC and their sponsored thugs to go scot free for the carnage they intend to cause.
“Members of a particular secret cult have been penned down to lead the attacks with a popular APC leader set to mobilise them to these facilities.
“The APC is resorting to this devious plan because they have realized the folly of presenting a candidate that is unsuitable for the office of a governor. The party is embarrassed by the fact that their candidate has become the butt of jokes in private and public spaces because of his lack of comportment, finesse and intellectual maturity to comprehend and engage intelligently as someone running for the office of the governor.
“At various instances, the APC candidate has shown poor grasp of basic concepts and his handlers have decided on shielding him from the public glare, hiding instead behind press releases and spokespersons. They have now resorted to violence and subterfuge as their strategy to forcefully take over government.
“We believe that the resort to violence is a recipe for anarchy and we therefore call on all security agencies in the State, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Brigade Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin, among others, to take notice of this planned attack and do well to forestall the intent to destroy public facilities.
“These facilities are not used by only members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but include public buildings to improve governance and also comprise investment by well-meaning business owners who seek the progress of our dear State.
“We, therefore, call on the security agencies to not only provide security at these facilities but also set their radar on chieftains of the APC during the protests so as to intercept any attempt to throw the State into chaos during the protest, in the best interest of the good people of Edo State.”
