By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the police of partisanship and selective justice in handling the crisis that erupted at the Benin Airport penultimate week.
The State Chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi stated this on Sunday while briefing journalists.
He added that the Police are acting in manners that suggest that they are a wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We have witnessed different instances in which the Police have acted in manners that suggest that they are a wing of the All Progressives Congress, preferring to rather attend to issues raised by APC and its agents and disregarding complaints by other actors in the polity.
Aziegbemi referred the case of the party’s Deputy Director General (Media and Publicity) of its election campaign council, Reverend Olu Martins who was invited and arrested by the police based on a petition against him over a statement he made.
“Conversely, however, I as the chairman of the PDP in Edo State wrote a petition over comments by the chairman of the State’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he threatened to mobilise and lead youths to stone the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, which is a recipe for violence and chaos in the State, given the sensitivity of the Office of the Governor.
“A video evidence of this threat and an accompanying petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State. Surprisingly, no action has been taken on the matter since the petition was submitted, unlike the swift manner in which the police responded to the petition against the Deputy Director General, Media and Publicity for the POP Campaign Council.”
Aziegbemi further alluded to the Benin Airport chaos that led to the unfortunate death of a Police Officer, Inspector Akor Onu.
According to him, “There is video evidence and a newspaper publication of this incident which identified thugs and members of the APC who carried out this wanton destruction of property end breach of public peace.
“A petition, to which all the evidence wes attached, was again submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State. Unfortunately and predictably, the Police Commissioner has failed to act on this petition and none of the gun-wielding touts and suspected culprits, whose faces were displayed in the newspaper publication and video clips bearing firearms amid policemen, have been invited or apprehended.
“Rather, they have deployed a tactical team of policemen to arrest and harass at least 22 members and leaders of the PDP in Edo State, who are currently under heavy surveillance, in connection with the said public disturbance of Thursday, July 18, even though there is no evidence to show that they were at the scene of the said event.
“The Police, from their actions and inactions in the wake of the developments in Edo State, appear to be acting a script in selective justice, preferring end nitpicking the petitions over which it acts, preferring rather to be better disposed to attention to petitions raised by the APC. We would like to stress that the Police are funded with taxpayers’ money and are obligated to act in manners that preserve public peace, ensuring that everyone has equal and unhindered access to justice.”
The Edo PDP chairman said they party is concerned about what he called “pattern of abuse of justice dangerously perpetuated by the Nigeria Potice Force, especially in the run-up to the September 21 governorship election,” which he said portends a rather disturbing trend that must be checked in the interest of peace.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to use his good offices and formations to ensure that the actual criminals are brought to book as against the innocent members of society being accused unjustly.
“The actual criminals are parading the streets freety and bragging about that nothing can happen to them as long as they belong to the ruling party APC. While the police are being used to harass, terrorize and intimidate our party (PDP) members.”
“The Inspector-General of Police Is called upon to safeguard and uphold democracy within the state. They must uphold and be seen to uphold the rule of law. Nigeria belongs to all of us and the right of membership of associations is guaranteed by the Constitution.”
When contacted, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, said the case has been transferred to the Force Headquarters, and so all comments or observations should be directed to Abuja henceforth.
“I don’t know what they meant by selective justice. The case has been transferred to Abuja. Whatever observations or comments anybody has should be directed to Abuja,” he said.