• State govt condemns clash between LP candidate,students’ union
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Olumide Akpata, yesterday accused an unnamed senior official of the Edo State Government of masterminding an attack on him at the University of Benin on Friday afternoon.
But in a swift response, the Edo State Government has condemned in the strongest terms, the violent attack on Akpata during his visit to the University of Benin on Friday
In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, the state government noted that claims and counterclaims have been made by Akpata and the Student Union Government (SUG) of the University adding that an active investigation is ongoing on the issue.
It warned that it would not tolerate violence or this sort of irresponsible behaviour which was associated with the visit of Akpata to the institution.
Akpata was a guest at an interactive session organised by the University of Benin Senior Staff Club, which was violently interrupted, causing pandemonium within the school premises.
This is as SUG of the University of Benin in a statement titled: ‘Update on Security Threats and Institutional Disregard’, which was signed by its President, King Lemuel, and Secretary, Comrade Eriamiatoe Miracle, also kicked against using students for the campaign at the staff club, noting that the President of UNIBEN Senior Staff Club is also being questioned by the appropriate authority.
The SUG alleged that the union was never informed about the interactive session involving the Labour Party’s candidate, adding that the school security was not aware of any authorisation of such a meeting.
Akpata in a viral video released yesterday said a senior lecturer who sustained injury as a result of the attack is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Benin.
He also debunked allegations that his security personnel shot a student, noting that it was another lie from the pit of hell.
He said at the appropriate time a detailed report of the incident and those involved would be made known to the police at the appropriate action.
Narrating the incident, Akpata said: “My staff drew my attention to a video making the rounds currently of an individual who claimed to have been shot at an event I attended yesterday and claimed to have been shot by a security agent. I looked at the video and nothing can be further than the truth. I only wished that the individual could show his face and determine the veracity of his story.
“I was invited to the University of Benin Senior Staff Club to hold an interactive session with members of the club. I’m told that a similar event took place a couple of weeks ago by the PDP candidate. To our surprise and consternation, this event was interrupted very rudely by some hoodlums who claimed to be students of the University of Benin.
“They disrupted the event, insisting that it shouldn’t be held without informing them. You can imagine how shocked we were, including the professors there. They barricaded the gate with their vehicles; there was a fracas in the precinct of the club; a lecturer was injured and he is at the hospital. I had to be taken away by security personnel and even as we attempted to leave Uniben, the highway was barricaded. It took my security personnel to remove the barricade before we continued our journey.
“We know what is going on. It is election season and it is quite obvious some of our old and very tired politicians are up to their usual antics and they have learnt nothing. I have it on good authority that those hoodlums were deployed by a senior official of the Edo State government and I’m speaking directly to this official now. I know you and you know me.
“I want to place it on record that at no time was the student of the University of Benin shot. The video was sent to bring misinformation; I was the one who was attacked, professors were attacked.”
Meanwhile, a statement signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, on behalf of the management of the university, condemned the reported violence.
She said the management had set up a committee headed by Prof. Frederick Ekhaise to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the violent action.
