Posted by From BOLU-OLU ESHO, Ado-Ekiti on
Circumstances surrounding the death of Edo State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Calus Enoma, may be unraveled in three weeks when the report of the autopsy conducted on his corpse will be ready.
Circumstances surrounding the death of Edo State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Calus Enoma, may be unraveled in three weeks when the report of the autopsy conducted on his corpse will be ready.
The state Governor, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, gave the indication in Lagos on Tuesday during an interactive session with journalists.
Governor Osunbor said three pathology experts conducted a post-mortem examination, last Friday, on the corpse of Enoma, who was found dead in Precious Palm Royal Hotel, Benin, where he lodged.
The governor gave an assurance that samples taken while the autopsy was carried out, as well as the outcome of police investigations would unearth the cause of the commissioner's death.
He explained further that besides the pathologists, representatives of the deceased commissioner's family, including his (Enoma's) personal physician, a medical doctor friend of the dad, witnessed the post-mortem.
Also in attendance were the Edo State commissioner for Health, senior special assistant to the governor on disease control, as well as a physician from the Central Hospital, Benin City.
Osunbor, who described Enoma's death as saddening, said he only got information that the commissioner was missing the Sunday following his disappearance.
According to the governor, his chief security officer (CSO) came to inform him, at about 8.00a.m. on Sunday, that Enoma's police orderly reported to him at 11.00p.m. the previous night that his boss left home on Friday night and was yet to return.
The governor explained further that the CSO said he felt it was too late to brief him on the matter, and so had to wait till Sunday morning.
On receiving the information, the governor said he immediately called the Edo State commissioner of police, who said he had learnt about the incident and that it was already being investigated.
Osunbor said his Special Adviser on Communication, Tony Ikpasaja, who accused the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate, Adams Oshiomhole of having a hand in the disappearance of the commissioner was only 'over enthusiastic."
He said: 'The truth is that the special adviser did not get a clearance before issuing the statement. His statement did not represent the position of government because the S.A. is only a special adviser and not a member of cabinet. Actually, the cabinet member, who should have cleared the statement was the commissioner on whom the statement was issued.
'I never accused Oshiomhole of having anything to do with the disappearance of the commissioner and so the issue of apology to him didn't arise. Retraction was made by the special adviser and Oshiomhole was magnanimous to accept the apology."
The governor said he was not in a position to comment on why the commissioner's police orderly had to wait till late Saturday night before informing the CSO about his boss' disappearance.
He pleaded that further comments on the death be reserved until police investigation is concluded and the release of the autopsy report.
Speaking on the problem in the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his relationship with the former Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, Governor Osunbor noted that Anenih contributed a great deal to his elections as senator and governor.
Osunbor said: 'I continue to hold him in high respect. I admit that some elements that are unhappy with the cordial relationship between us may have been peddling falsehood about me before him.
'He has given instances of such allegations against me, but I have urged him to discountenance some of the falsehood, that I'm innocent of some of the false rumour.
'I like to believe that he has been persuaded to believe me and that our relationship is cordial."
The governor said the problem in Edo PDP was not as grave as being portrayed, adding that even though quarrel could not be ruled out, it was their responsibility to reach out to the aggrieved and ensure amicable settlement.