How I escaped assassination – Deputy governor narrates what happened
– Edo state deputy governor, Pius Odubu said the attack on life by some gunmen was geared towards disrupting the aims of his campaign
– He said seven persons sustained varying degrees of injury and were receiving treatment
– The gunmen were said to have claimed that they were mobilised with the sum of one million naira
– The leadership of the state chapter of the APC, condemned the attack, thanking God that nobody was killed
– The police has vowed to go after the perpetrators, saying they already have the names of some of them
The deputy governor of Edo state, Dr. Pius Odubu, who narrowly escaped an attempt on his life by suspected assassins in in Auchi, Etsako West local government area of the state, has narrated what happened.
Pius Odubu escaped death by the whiskers
Speaking during a press briefing in Benin, Odubu said he had to be shielded inside a hall to avoid “direct bullet contacts”.
Odubu, an aspirant under the All Progressives Congress for the September 10 governorship election in the state, was denied access to the party secretariat at Fugar, allegedly on the instruction of a deputy director of protocol at the government house.
Some delegates later forced the gate open to enable the deputy governor meet with them outside.
READ ALSO: Edo PDP chairman accuses Oshiomhole of blackmail
His campaign organization explained: “Surprisingly, at Auchi, the deputy governor and his team met with passionate, patriotic (and) huge number of delegates but no sooner had the meeting begun than the gunmen opened fire outside the secretariat on both security men and members of the deputy governor’s entourage and delegates. It was such a shocking and gory sight to behold.”
Odubu noted that the attack was “orchestrated directly at his person” and geared towards disrupting the aims of the campaign.
He said seven persons sustained varying degrees of injury and were receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching hospital and another hospital in Auchi.
The victims include; a DSS operative, Patrick Amakiri; his escort police commander, Inspector Agge Felix; and a driver, Zibiri Yakubu.
Others are Ogbeso Nice, Inu Umoru, Osabuohien Igiebor, Matthew Ajayi and another person whose identity could not be ascertained.
A source who pleaded anonymity said the thugs claimed to have been mobilised with the sum of one million naira.
READ ALSO: Odubu reveals his plans for Edo state
Samson Osagie, a former minority whip in the House of Representatives who spoke on behalf of the Odubu Campaign Organisation, said preliminary investigation by the organisation had revealed three principal suspected masterminds of the attack.
He said the incident was an attempt to compel the deputy governor “quit the governorship race or be eliminated, while describing it as an act of cowardice which was perpetrated by those afraid of free, fair and credible democratic election.
“This, to us, is the height of naked display of cruelty, animosity, acrimony, intolerance, gross irresponsibility and man’s inhumanity to man,” Osagie said.
He called on the national leadership of the APC to intervene in the happenings in the state.
Reacting to the attack, the leadership of the state chapter of the APC thanked God that n0obody died.
The state publicity secretary, Godwin Erhahon condemned the attack, describing it as “absolute madness”.
“I think we should pray for them (perpetrators) so that sanity can come into them, otherwise, they will end up destroying themselves,” he added.
Odubu was attacked by gunmen on Saturday, April 30, during his visit to Auchi to meet with party delegates in the area.
READ ALSO: I didn’t plot to kill Oshiomhole – Edo dep gov
It is speculated that he has been at loggerheads with Governor Adams Oshiomhole over his ambition to contest in the governorship election.
The police high command in Benin, Edo state said that it will not leave any stone unturned in the investigation on the attack, adding that they were working on a lead that will help the police unravel those behind the dastardly attack.
“I have given a marching order that those involved be arrested. This thing happened in the day time, names have been mentioned and we going after them,” he said.
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