Governor Adams Oshiomhole has fired a warning to the controversial Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, saying his conduct during the recently local council elections in the state undermined state and electoral laws.
Oshiomhole, at the inauguration of 14 newly elected chairmen in Benin, accused Chief Igbinedion, the father of erstwhile convicted governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion, of impeding the prosperity of the state and behaving like an outlaw.
“There is evidence that he (Igbinedion) has undermined the prosperity of the state for a very long time. Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones.
“I want to send a warning to Chief Igbinedion that he should take it easy; he has acquired a lot of government land that the people have not engaged him on. He walks as if he is above the law. He was a chief tax collector in this state, pocketing 25 to 30 per cent of every kobo that accrued while his son was the governor,”Oshiomhole said, adding, “I have not looked back because my mandate is to look forward. I want to put him on notice that if he continues with elderly rascality, I will bring him to justice.”
The Governor added, “He must never ever underestimate the fact that I have the will and I have the capacity to deploy that will; if he crosses the law, he will be cut to size.
“Elders must teach the younger ones to behave responsibly.
“You heard how he is using ITV in a very reckless manner, in clear breach of the NBC code. He reduced himself as a high chief, leaving where he is registered to vote and going all the way to Okada on a day movement was restricted across the state.
“He got to Okada and illegally used mobile policemen to walk on the street; going to the police station where sensitive election materials were kept in order to vandalise the sensitive electoral materials to ensure elections did not take place.
“If he misleads himself into believing that he has the birth right to continue to appropriate and privatise the resources of Edo State, he is living in a fool’s paradise.”
Adams Oshiomhole also lampooned the State’s electoral commission for the lapses recorded during the polls insisting the commission must apologise to Edo voters.
