A group, All Progressives Congress (APC) Vanguard has taken a swipe at the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, over alleged sponsorship of a smear campaign against the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The group which comprises of APC leaders in the state said the PDP, Obaseki and Ighodalo have suddenly become desperate, over fears that they will suffer a humiliating defeat in the upcoming governorship polls.
TheHintsNews reports that a group, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, recently held a press conference and also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over claims that Okpebholo sprayed the naira at a public function
However, the National Coordinator of the group, David Osarobo, in a statement issued Tuesday said Okpebholo as a private and public person, he has never sprayed or mutilated the naira, insisting that the video agents of the governor and PDP members are sharing on social media does not belong to him.
He said the PDP, Obaseki, and Ighodalo have suddenly become desperate, over fears that they would suffer a humiliating defeat in the upcoming governorship polls.
Osarobo noted: “Emperor Godwin Obaseki, the crisis-ridden PDP and their novice candidate, Ighodalo, have decided to resort to cheap blackmail. They know that they will lose the election, and they are jittery.
“They are scouting for fake news and non-existent things to blackmail me and lie to Edo people. Unfortunately for them, we know what they are up to. They are smelling the defeat already. Edo people have already decided, and no amount of State-sponsored intimidation will work.
“There is no going back. We must liberate Edo State from the grip of mini tyrants and economic scavengers who want to use our commonwealth to enrich themselves.”
Osarobo revealed that in his over 50 years on earth, he has never been arrested by the police for any civil or criminal offences, and wondered why the PDP and its agents would fabricate fake news to tarnish his image ahead of the election where he is favoured to win in the polls.
He noted that Edo State deserves a home-grown solution to the many problems created by Obaseki’s clueless administration.
He said in the coming days, his Campaign Organisation would unveil its plans for Edo people, saying the campaign would focus on key areas that would uplift the lives of the people — Education, healthcare, agriculture, security, tourism, food security, and economic development, among others.
Osarobo noted, “I call on Edo people to ignore the new distraction the PDP and their agents are trying to promote. ‘Edo no dey carry last’. We are smart, and no one can deceive us, including Obaseki, who has failed the people.”