From Moshood Karim
The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philips Shaibu, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police to establish an inquiry into the recent violence at Benin Airport, where a police orderly was fatally shot by unknown gunmen.
The incident, which occurred last Thursday, targeted the police escort of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who narrowly escaped the attack.
Shaibu made his appeal during a Thanksgiving service held at St Paul Anglican Church on Airport Road in Benin City on Sunday.
He expressed his concerns to the congregation and the press, urging for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“I refused to pull anybody to the streets because they were saying we know him, he will soon pull people to the streets,” Shaibu stated.
“They know what they have done and they are trying to cover up but this one, they cannot cover it up, not when a police officer was a victim. They cannot cover this. All of them must be picked.”
Shaibu said there is need for accountability and transparency, calling on the Inspector General of Police to scrutinize the incident.
According to him: “They orchestrated it. The IG must look into it. They are struggling to see how they can rope people in. They cannot rope anybody in. I am urging the president and IG to set up an inquiry to investigate this killing.”
He further addressed the political climate in Edo State, vis-a-vis event that led to his impeachment: “They said they will impeach me and I will go to court and that by the time judgment comes, the tenure will have been over. I now challenged God to prove to them that they have touched His anointed and that the judgment will come faster than expected. I said I will need the judgment to come before the election.”
Shaibu concluded by advocating for peaceful and democratic processes, particularly in the upcoming election.
“This election is the time to change anti-democratic forces. You must do it through the ballot box. Don’t engage in violence. I have been preaching this for the past one year when the intimidation and harassment against me started.” He said.
