Defection rally in Edo: Masked armed men open fire to scare APC faithful

There was pandemonium weekend in Benin City as masked armed men shot repeatedly to scare members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from attending the mega rally organised by the party to welcome the former governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Osagie Ize-iyamu into the party.

The formal defection of the 2016 governorship candidate of PDP member to APC has been a subject of controversy between factions loyal to the Edo State Government and those loyal to the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

The controversy resulted in the state government closure of all private schools in the state in order to ensure that the rally did not hold.

Determined to ensure that the rally took place, Ize-iyamu and the faction loyal to the party’s national chairman relocated the venue of the defection to his house.

But as party faithful, supporters and dignitaries trooped to the venue, masked armed men shot repeatedly to scare them from attending the rally.

The masked men in three vehicles drove along Ugbor road, a few minutes’ drive to Osagie Ize-iyamu’s house and closely followed by the security outfit.

The shooting however, forced residents and passers-by to scamper for safety.

Though Oshiomhole was absent at the rally, Pius Odubu, former deputy governor of the state, factional state chairman of the party, David Imuse, Julius Ihonvbere, federal lawmaker, representing Owan federal constituency, Abubakar Momoh, former federal lawmaker representing Etsako federal constituency, members of the Edo People’s Movement, among others were present.

Receiving Ize-iyamu and other defectors to the party, the factional state chairman, David Imuse urged them to work for the progress and development of the party.

Imuse, who noted that nobody can claim sole ownership of the party, added that they were co-partners in progress.

In his remarks, Osagie Ize-iyamu, the former PDP governorship candidate, pleaded with those who felt threatened by his homecoming to have a rethink.

Iyamu said his home-coming was to add value to the party and not to wage war against anybody.

According to him, “Those who feel threatened or apprehensive, I want to please reassure them that we are not coming to fight in APC, we are not coming to wage war, we are coming to add value and so, we will continue to stretch our hands of friendship to everybody.

“Well, I am very happy. In my life, I have learnt never to be deterred by obstacles and so, I have made up my mind with those who also believed in me to join the party that we founded in this state and even in this country, the APC.

“So, today, we are surrounded by old friends and comrades in politics who have come to receive us. The crowd, as you can see, is mammoth and we thank God that there was no obstacle.

“For those who could not make it because of the difficulty, we apologise to them and I assured them that there will be another date and for those who came, I want to appreciate them”, he said.

Iyamu, who said he thought that the rally would be marred by violence, however, added that he had gone to his ward to register as a party member.