Edo Fire Incidents : State Govt Reacts, Says Handiwork Of APC

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Government has swiftly taken on the main opposition party, the All Progressive Congress,(APC) in the State, accusing it of complicity in fire incidents that gutted major markets in the State capital, Benin City.

The APC had earlier fingered the State Government over of possible involvement in the “annual market fire outbreak that has wrecked major markets in Benin-city.”

Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare in a press release in Benin City, Wednesday, said “the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed our strong suspicion that they are responsible or at least complicit in the Lagos Street, Benin fire of yesterday and similar fire incidents that have happened in eve or during electioneering campaigns season in the past, in our State.

“The coincidence of the timing of these unwarranted fires is cause for concern. Edo State government strongly believe that the APC must be involved.

“Prior to the 2020 gubernatorial election, Eki Osa, Santana and Oba Markets were set on fire as confirmed  by the spokesman of the APC, John Mayaki.

“In fact traders in Ekiosa Market told journalists then that the fire was the handiwork of mischief makers, at a time the APC was aggressively looking for ways to blackmail Governor Godwin Obaseki and dent his high popularity ratings weeks before the election.

“It would interest you to know that since after the last gubernatorial election in Edo State, there hasn’t been any market fire.

“Now that elections are coming again, the APC has resorted to one of its devilish and inhuman tactics and has started with the Lagos Street fire incident.

“Burning down markets is not a way to resurrect a dead political party that has manufactured unprecedented levels of poverty for Nigerians.

“The APC and their collaborators should desist from this life of crime. Arson is a crime punishable by jail time. Both sponsors and perpetrators are equally liable.

“We advise the youths not to allow themselves to be used to sabotage our mothers and fathers in the markets and in the larger society.

“The relevant agencies of government have commenced investigations  into the Lagos Street fire incident and no stones will be left unturned in the process because enough is enough.

“Col Imuse Rtd, APC State Chairman and Mr. John Mayaki, Chairman of Edo Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Presidential Campaign Council are persons of interest and should be invited to help with the investigation of not just this fire, but all previous market fires on the eve of elections in Edo State.”