The candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State, John Darlington Iyoha, has appealed to Edo people in the Diaspora to save their relatives back home from Capt. Hosa Wells Okunbo’s increasing attacks.
Iyoha, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said “the appeal became necessary as efforts made by well meaning Edo elders in Benin City to call Captain Okunbo to order have not yielded the desired result.”
He added: “We gathered from very reliable sources that Capt. Hosa Okunbo has procured guns for notorious cultists in the state to unleash mayhem across the state. We also gathered that millions of naira have been paid out by him to these cultists and thugs to hound, maim and kill Edo people who are not supporting the APC candidate in the election.
“We are appealing to our fathers, mothers, uncles, wives, sons and daughters in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Asia, including those in African countries to take over the fight and save Edo people from Okunbo’s devilish plots.
“He has vowed to spend his last kobo to install the APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in Government House. He said he is the richest Benin man alive and has the resources to determine who governs Edo State. Recently he arrested Marvelous Zibiri, an Edo youth for publishing an article which Okunbo perceived as an attack on his person. Zibiri was arrested and severely tortured for expressing his support for his party’s gubernatorial candidate.”
Iyoha however assured that “We will resist Okunbo with everything we have, within the provisions of the law, and we want our sons and daughters in the Diaspora to join in the fight.”
The PPN gubernatorial candidate lamented that “Captain Hosa, Ize-Iyamu and Adams Oshiomhole have promised to bring back the outlawed illegal Community Development Associations (CDAs) if they successfully rig their way into government.
“To the credit of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, Edo people today can build their houses in the state without thugs and area boys disturbing them. Our party, PPN, acknowledges the impact of reforms of key sectors of the state and will build on Obaseki’s achievements when we emerge winner of the September 19, election.
“Capt. Okunbo is alleged to be behind the failed Airport Road dualisation project, before it was re-awarded. He is also alleged to be behind the failed Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) transmitter project and several other dirty dealings under former governor Adams Oshiomhole.
“Our party will probe him when we set up our government later in the year.”
