A civil society group, Concerned Citizens of Edo State (CCES) and the Market Women Association in Edo State have condemned the resort to violence by politicians in the state, stressing that no one’s political ambition should put the people in harms way.
The groups, in separate statements, in Benin City, said the descent to violence, especially the use of explosives in parts of the state, was most condemnable.
They urged the Presidency and the Nigerian Police Force to call those behind the dastardly attack to order.
The CCES, in a statement by Ogbewi Aghedo, said the news of the use of explosives by politicians was disturbing, noting that those involved in such dastardly acts should be reined in.
According to him, “We are agitated that the political impasse in the state has taken a dangerous and disturbing turn. It has become imperative to warn the politicians perpetuating this violence.
“We are a peaceful and law-abiding people and would not tolerate the actions of people who have decided to use our safety and peace as canon-fodder for their proxy wars.
Leader of the Edo Market Women Association, Madam Blackky Ogiamien, said women in the state are strongly against the activities of politicians trying to thrown the state into chaos.
She said, “We strongly stand against this trend and want the people behind this to know that we will not tolerate it.”
The Edo State Government had earlier condemned the use of explosives and other dangerous weapons at the weekend by some politicians in parts of the state to cause mayhem, endangering the lives of law-abiding citizens of the state in the process.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, described the dastardly act as reprehensible and most condemnable.
According to Osagie, “the shameful resort to violence is the next move by the suspended National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his cohorts in the Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) to create tension in the state with the intent of forcing the authorities to declare a State of Emergency in Edo State.”
