by 
Not less than 15 persons
were injured yesterday as supporters of the two factions existing in Edo State
All Progressives Congress clashed as a result of the controversies surrounding
the planned mega rally to receive members of the Peoples Democratic Party led
by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The victims were hospitalised at the new Central
Hospital. Meanwhile, there was heavy presence of suspected thugs and security
at the state Secretariat of the APC along Airport Road last night as Vanguard
gathered that the beefing up was to prevent the taking over of the Secretariat
by the acting chairman, Col David Imuse (rtd). The deputy governor, Comrade
Philip Shaibu led other government dignitaries to visit the injured who
reportedly got injured when they clashed with supporters of Oshiomhole who
arrived late yesterday evening for the rally. Oshiomhole late yesterday called
for calm among party faithful while he said he would assesses the true position
of things whether the rally would hold or not. Addressing party faithful that
followed him from the airport to his residence which took almost two hours,
Oshiomhole said he was shocked that leaders of a party led by the governor
would be resisting influx of members into the APC.
He appealed to members of the party in Edo
state to remain calm following the incident. Oshiomhole said: “I know you are
hurt with what we are passing through here but I want to plead with you don’t
be provoked. Any reasonable party leader will be happy to welcome people from
another party into his party. “Particularly when those coming were people who
fought us in the last election. And when you look at the margin then it was
like 50,000. So we are in Benin to welcome them but you could see how their
thugs are unleashing mayhem on people. “But I want to tell you, APC is our
house and we will not destroy it neither are we going to allow any body destroy
it. We don’t want anyone to be killed so please don’t fight back. Those who
know me know that I am not a coward, I am not afraid of a fight. But I will not
and I urge you to remain calm. “We are getting conflicting report now, the IG
ordered the Commissioner if Police to give us protection for our rally. But we
are being told now that the same authority said it has been cancelled. But I am
going to make calls and find out what the problem is, if the police is saying
they cannot protect a political rally. “I will find out and let you people
know. But even if they said we cannot hold it, please don’t fight anybody. I
will meet them and find out when it will hold. But the rally will still hold
some day. We have the right of association. This is not the first time we are
seeing situations like this, but I can assure you it will not last forever. “No
condition is permanent. We must do everything to keep APC in Edo State no
matter what the devil thinks. APC Is our house so we must resist any temptation
to fight back. We must remember that our President Muhammad Buhari is a
peaceful man. We must remain peaceful and go home and tell everyone, we remain
strong. Nobody can shake our spirit. We will receive our brothers into the
party to fortify our party”.
Source: Vanguard Nigeria News
