National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiohmole has described those who allegedly attacked his house in Benin as wanting war. Some unidentified persons attacked his home on Friday evening.
Speaking after the incident, Oshiomhole said those behind the attack are bent on creating crisis in the state, but that they do not have the numbers to fight dirty.
He asked his supporters to be clam, and to not return ”madness for madness”.
He said: “In a moment like this, it is not madness for madness because many of you I see here in 2007, you were already strong. During my second in 2012, you were already strong; Even at 2016, some of you were already deployed as party agent,” he said.
“These people want to create what has not happen for a very long time. They want war and want to cause crisis. They are boasting that they want to crush and crush people. Go and buy crushing machine.
“No man born of a woman that can change what God has said. And if God says, no, who can say yes? My own is don’t let them drag you out of the bathroom like Igbo man says and be running after them like the town naked mad men because we are not mad.
“If it comes to the ruffle ruffle that he wants, they don’t have the number. You know that when you start to tell lies, you will have to lie many times to sustain one lie.
“We will not condescend to their level. But, let me say this. It is clear, Nigeria is a free Country. There is freedom of association. There is freedom of worship. There is freedom of religion. There is freedom of expression. So, nobody in Nigeria can harass you. Just be the good guys that you are.
“My weapon which is the truth, is more powerful than the weapon of the arm forces in the world. Have I threatened any of you? I have never sent any of you to prison. How many of you …have I ever said to any of you that if you do not follow me, I will send you to prison?
“…But, the tradition of Edo people is that if you do something and your father is not happy, he will call you home and say my son, don’t do this again.
“As a father or mother, maturity is the ability to change the habit that you are not happy. There is no wisdom to do as if you are an angel who has never sinned? Those who want to cast the first stone, may God bless them.
Spokesman to the APC chairman, Simon Egbebulam was retorted to have blamed the incident on the State Governor Godwin Obaseki.
He said Oshiohmole was a a friend’s event when the assailants besieged his house but we’re expelled by security.
”Security operatives and youths of the APC in Edo state on Friday repelled attack by thugs suspected to be loyal to the state government at the residence of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in Okorotun Street, Government Reservation Area, Benin City,” he said.
“Oshiomhole came for the purpose of a function that took place in Protea hotel which was his aim of coming to Benin City from Abuja.
“While he was away on the function, some thugs believed to be in the other camp, blocked the entrance to his residence, fanning the embers of war.
“Security men on ground dislodge the hoodlums from gaining entrance into the residence. Brave APC youths also resisted the thugs who took to their heel.”
The Edo state government has denied having knowledge of the attack.
“We have no knowledge of the attack. We have also reached out to the Police, and they affirmed that they do not know about such an attack,” it said in a statement issued by Crusoe Osagie, special adviser to the governor on media and communication strategy.
Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, have been having a running battle over the political control of the state as election draws nearer.
