The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State chapter has condemned the statement made by the All Progressive Congress (APC), that the crash involving the vehicle of the former Governor of the state Comrade Adam Oshiomole was an assassination attempt on the person of the former national chairman of the APC.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Benin, Edo state capital, the PDP Publicity Secretary Chris Nehikhare stated that the claim by the APC is childish and that instead of pointing fingers at people, Oshiomole should be answering questions over his long history of convoy crashes.
He said: “The claim is childish, irresponsible and preposterous, and if anything, Oshiomhole should be answering questions over his convoy’s frequent involvement in road crashes that have claimed the lives of about ten persons since 2008.”
Nehikhare noted that “if the APC is sure about the intent of the truck driver that reportedly rammed into Oshiomhole’s convoy, even before the investigation is carried out by the relevant agencies of government, the APC should also know who the assassin is, the sponsor, if any, and should be courageous enough to name them.”
The PDP explained that “before the latest accident that claimed the lives of two security personnel and left others severely injured, on Tuesday at Oluku, there had been at least three other fatal accidents involving Oshiomhole’s convoy, or is the APC saying that all the crashes were assassination attempts?”
Nehikhare said: “In December 2008, five persons, including the chief press secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Chris Nwachukwu and the Personal Assistant, Mr Greg Haruna, lost their lives in a motor accident along Auchi Road.
“According to reports, the accident occurred at Agbede in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state when the Kia Cerato official car of the CPS had a head-on collision with a mini-bus belonging to the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Delta State Chapter, while on their way to Auchi for a friend’s wedding ceremony.
“April 28, 2012 was another day of mourning for families of four journalists attached to the Edo State Government House.
“Three of the journalists; Olatunji Jacob and George Okosun, both of the Independent Television, as well as Fidelis Ohani, a cameraman of the African Independent Television (AIT), lost their lives while Governor Adams Oshiomhole escaped death after a tipper rammed into the governor’s convoy along Warrake Road in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
“There is another version of this story that says that Oshiomhole, who was drunk, actually drove the vehicle and rammed into the truck,” the PDP said.
The party added: “Reports said six other journalists in the press bus and security operatives attached to the governor sustained various degrees of injuries while a photojournalist of the state-owned Observer Newspaper, Mr. David Acha, and a driver, were in coma.
“In December 2013, Oshiomhole was involved in yet another accident when a bus loaded with plantain rammed into his car. His bullet-proof vehicle was damaged beyond repairs.”