Posted by By FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja on
Immediate past President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and governorship candidate of Action Congress (AC) in last year April governorship election in Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over alleged threat to his life by persons suspected to have been sponsored by the officials of Edo State government.
• Petitions IG
Immediate past President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and governorship candidate of Action Congress (AC) in last year April governorship election in Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over alleged threat to his life by persons suspected to have been sponsored by the officials of Edo State government.
In the petition dated January 3, 2008, the former labour leader who is challenging the election of Edo State governor, Professor Osariehme Osunbor at the election petition tribunal alleged that the deputy governor of the state, Chief Lucky Imasuen and the commander of Mobile Police Unit in Benin, Paul Ijebu had physically threatend to deal with him when they met at the premises of Edo State Electoral Commission, in Benin.
He also complained that the said Paul Ijebu had invaded his home with a lorry load of anti-riot policemen and forced his way in under the pretext that the AC candidate was holding a meeting with some youths in the state, whereas the governoship candidate was not even at home but on his way to Abuja to honour an invitation by the IGP.
Oshiomhole lamented that ever since he had altercations with the government officials, he had been recieving various death threats verbally and in form of text messages on his phone.
He called on the police to investigate thoroughly the incident as he was not ready to abandon his petition at the tribunal but would pursue it to a logical conclusion within the ambit of the law.
A copy of the petion which was obtained by Daily Sun in Abuja read:
'I hereby write to formally report to you a case of threats to my life by Mr. Lucky Imasuen, the Deputy Governor of Edo State on the one hand and the Commander of the 5 Squadron of the Mobile Police Unit (Mopol 5) in Benin City, Mr. Paul Ijebu on the other hand for thorough investigation.
'In my face-to face encounter with the said Mr. Lucky Imasuen on Saturday 22 December, 2007 at the EDSIEC Office at Sapele Road, Benin City, he threatened to deal ruthlessly with me in order to serve as a lesson and a deterrent to others like me, insisting that one man can not continue to hold the Edo State Government to ransom.
'On his part, Mr. Paul Ijebu, said to my face that he has declared me his enemy and would treat me as such for daring to oppose the Edo State Government. On 20th, December, 2007, the said Paul Ijebu invaded my residence in Benin and forced his way into my premises with a truck load of armed Mobile Policemen under the false pretext that I was holding a Meeting with some youths in my said residence whereas I was on my way to Abuja to keep an appointment with the Inspector General of Police.
"Since then, I had been inundated with anonymous death calls and text messages by paid and hired killers threatening to execute the contract of assassinating me already awarded to them by some chieftains of PDP and Edo State Government which they alleged is being coordinated by Mr. Lucky lmasuen.
"I am also further informed that the said assassins are to be sourced from neighbouring States with the assistance of a well-known notorious and murderous father of thugs in Benin.
"While I reaffirm my commitment and determination to resist all forms of threat and intimidation and to pursue my Election Petition at the Election Tribunal to its logical conclusion within the ambit of the Law, I however, wish to strongly appeal to you to carry out a thorough investigation of this serious threat to my life and guarantee my security and safety."