Osunbor, Oshiomhole exchange words

By Festus Ojudun - 25.03.2008

The last may not have been heard of the reactions of Edo State governor, Senator Oserhiemen Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress (AC), to last Thursday’s judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

In separate statements made available to the Nigerian Tribune, the duo traded words, accusing each other of engaging in activities that threatened peace in the state.

Governor Osunbor, speaking through his Special Adviser (Communication and Public Relations), Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, urged Oshiomhole to maintain the peace in the state, saying: “It has become necessary to call on the opposition led by Adams Oshiomhole to give peace a chance in Edo State and wait for the judgment of the Appeal Court.”

But Oshiomhole seemed to have responded when, in his Easter message, he urged the people to “pray to our Heavenly Father to touch the hearts of those who plan the reign of darkness for our country and for our state.”

Governor Osunbor further said that the ruling of the tribunal would not stand the test of time, describing it as “controversial.”

He alleged that the tribunal chairman, Justice Peter Umeadi, left the state with copies of the judgment he delivered last week, noting that the act was “strange and deliberate.

“It is, however, surprising that the same tribunal which has awarded six victories to PDP in the Action Congress suit challenging the party’s victories at the House of Assembly sudenly turned around to say the gubernatorial election were lost in these same areas. Meanwhile, both elections were done on the same day,” he said.

He added that PDP leaders in the state, including the former chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, and Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, would unite to ensure the party’s success at the Appeal Court.

On his part, Oshiomhole charged the people of the state to pray for “wisdom, courage and the resolve to right all wrongs in the state.