Obi, Odigie-Oyegun, Others Escape Death As Gunmen Attack ADC Leaders In Benin

By Jane Okafor, Abuja and Mick Oseji, Asaba

Pandemonium broke out at the Benin – Edo State residence of former Governor and and ex – National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, forcing panic – stricken chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that converged there to flee in search of safety as the place came under gun attacks by persons suspected to be political thugs.

The former presidential candidate, of the ADC,  Peter Obi, Chief Oyegun, and some chieftains of the party ran in different directions as the suspected stormed the residence and opened fire, riddling many vehicles with bullets.

The Daily Crucible learnt that the windshields of several SUVs were shattered, while the gate leading to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence was riddled  with bullets.

Peter Obi’s ex – campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, described it as a “survived assassination attempt”

Tanko claimed that the armed attackers followed them from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles.

He claimed that the incident occurred while they were in Benin City on Tuesday for the formal declaration of ex – governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the state, Olumide Akpata, into the ADC, lamenting that the attack puts the nation’s democracy in danger.

The statement read, “Peter Obi and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. At the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress, armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“They shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appears to be a survived assassination attempt on our lives. Democracy is in danger.”

Meanwhile, the ex – Governors Edo and Anambra States have condemned the attack on the residence of a national leader of the ADC.

Obi and Oyegun who spoke separately in Benin City shortly after the attack,  urged the state and federal government rein in the purveyors of violence.

For Obi said that it was time for the Federal Government to take a decisive action.

“It is time to speak up. It is time those in government act. They will not be there forever. What is allowed to happen in the country today will ultimately affect all of us and the nation,” he said.

Also, Odigie-Oyegun warned that such incidents, if left unchecked, could plunge the country into avoidable chaos

“I am afraid that our leaders, both at the centre and in this state are playing with fire. The consequences could be terrible, much more than any of you expect. I will still talk to the media.

“All I wish to say is holding a meeting, scheduled meeting, everybody informed, duly informed, normal meeting in the premises of the party secretariat today, halfway through the proceedings, we got intelligence report certainly from one of the security agencies that they have information that the place is going to be attacked, so we should please try to wind up.

“Well, you can’t ignore information. So we cut short our proceedings and I think we were just barely lucky to have left there in time because thereafter it looks like all hell broke loose. People arrived here in about 10 vehicles shooting all over the place, people injured and so the question is clear between the intel coming and our finishing the making.

“There was known cooperation, coordination between the security agencies such that that venue at least will get emergency protection. People were able to come in so many vehicles, shoot their way, break into the building, break the office, property and the rest of it and go away and this is a state where we have a governor and where the first duty of any government is to protect us?

“They came here. I don’t know if it is a very interesting thing, but we had a guest, of course. The former governor of Anambra and one of the prominent leaders of the ADC. From all indications, an aspirant.

“So whether that was what attracted the attack on my premises and my property because the government here had threatened that if he came to Edo State without permission, his security cannot be guaranteed. He was paying a courtesy visit to me and bullets started raining all over the place in my state where I was governor. Edo state. When did we degenerate to that kind of level? So I am still putting my thoughts together. But these are very dangerous, but not good for anyone.”