APC thugs who invaded Oba’s palace should be arrested – Orbih

The chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South Dan Orbih, has berated supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for desecrating the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II Ogidigan.

Orbih, speaking through a press release made available to Quick News Africa on Sunday, said the incident which took place on Saturday, when the PDP’s National Campaign Council had paid the royal a courtesy visit was an embarrassment.

“I want to place it on record that the visit was officially communicated to the palace and the various security agencies as PDP leaders visit that included the party’s national chairman, members of the national working committee, governors of Rivers, Sokoto, Delta and the incumbent governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.

“There was no official APC event in the palace or anywhere in Benin that was so communicated in accordance with INEC guidelines; there was no official communication to the security agencies and the palace that APC was also going to have an event at the palace.

“The invasion of the palace gate by armed APC youths was a well-coordinated assault by the leadership and sponsors of the Edo APC to eliminate the national leadership of the PDP and all democratically elected governors of PDP that were expected to be with the governor.”

Orbih said the reckless action of the mob could throw the nation in crisis and called for the breach of security to be investigated by the nation’s security agencies situated in the state, those found culpable arrested and arraigned in accordance with the nation’s laws.

“The APC organised attack at the palace is, in our view, a political mutiny against constituted authority [and is] capable of causing interstate conflict and war between Edo state and the affected states of the governors that were marked down for elimination.

There have been several videos in the cyberspace where these thugs have been instructed, directed and motivated to intimidate and cause chaos and mayhem in the state.

“The security agencies must swing into action to bring all those connected with the incident to book.”

Orbih wondered where the mob could have got the temerity to invade the palace of a royal, if they had no mission an called their action an “abomination”.

“Choosing the palace to unleash their evil plans is an abomination and a total disrespect to our royal majesty and highly respected traditional institution.

“We condemn the attack and wanton destruction of PDP members vehicles and property by these hooligans in broad day light in the vicinity of the Palace of our revered Oba.

“I commend the leaders and members of Edo State PDP and supporters for their maturity yesterday [and for] restraining themselves from retaliation in the face of unwarranted attacks and hostilities.

“I want to assure them that the party will not fold its hands and watch members attacked and killed because of their support for Governor Godwin Obaseki.”