The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Bar. Olumide Akpata on Saturday accused an unnamed senior official of the Edo State Government of being behind his attack on Friday afternoon at the University of Benin, Edo State.
Akpata was attacked as a guest at an interactive session organized by the University of Benin staff club, which was violently interrupted by supposed students of the University.
This is as the Students Union government, (SUG) of the University of Benin in a statement titled, “Update on Security Threats and Institutional Disregard” signed by its President, Comrade King Lemuel and Secretary, Comrade Eriamiatoe Miracle, also frowns against using “ students as a means of campaign at the staff club and noted that the President of Uniben 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 also added that the school security was not aware of any authorization for such a meeting.
Olumide on his party in a viral video released Saturday 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 at the University of Benin and noted that it was another lie from the pits of hell.
He said at the appropriate time a detailed report of the incident and those involved would be made known to the police for appropriate action.
He narrated, “My staff drew my attention to a video that making the round currently of an individual who claims to have been shot at an event I attended yesterday. 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 were fracas in the precinct of the club, and a lecturer was injured and 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 any student of the University of Benin shot. The video was sent to bring misinformation, I was the one who was attacked, and professors were attacked
Meanwhile, in a statement signed by the University Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire on behalf of the management of the University condemned the reported violence.
She said the management has set up a committee to be presided over by Professor Frederick Ekhaise to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the violent action.
In a related development, the Edo govt has condemned the clash between LP candidate, Akpata and UNIBEN SUG
The Edo State Government condemns in the strongest terms the violence associated with the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Olumide Akpata’s visit to the University of Benin on Friday, April 12, 2024.
Claims and counterclaims have been made by Mr. Akpata and the Student Union Government (SUG) of the University in statements issued by both parties on April 13, and active investigation is ongoing on the issue.
The Edo State Government, however, warns in the strongest terms that it will not tolerate violence or this sort of irresponsible behaviour which was associated with the visit of Mr. Akpata to the institution.
Government has the primary responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property in the State and will spare no effort to ensure that anyone who breaches the peace, no matter how highly placed, will face the full weight of the law.
We hereby call on all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses without let as relevant agencies progress with their investigation into the said matter.
