Angry Edo youths stone Governor Obaseki

Governor Godwin Obasek

Some youths in Edo State, yesterday pelted the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, with stones at the Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the incident happened in Irrua where Obaseki had gone to consult with leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo Central Senatorial District.

The meeting was said to be connected to the party’s forthcoming primaries for the 2019 general elections.

It was gathered that the angry youths stormed the venue of the meeting and accused the governor of discriminating against the district in the political affairs of the state.

They were said to have pelted the governor’s convoy with sachets of water, stones before the intervention of some security operatives in the area.

The protesters were dressed in an attire with the inscription ‘Esan Youth Movement’.

The Edo State Chairman of the APC, Mr Anselm Ojezua, who confirmed this, said the perpetrators had no connection with the APC.

He said, “We are investigating the incident. I really do not know the motive behind it but I can only tell you that those who did it are not APC youths.

“They wore the paraphernalia of the Esan Youth Movement. They invaded the arena to do what they did; I think it was more of personal agenda than political agenda.”

While dismissing the speculation that Obaseki and the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, had disagreed over the method to adopt for the primaries, Ojezua said the party’s candidates would only emerge through direct primaries if the option of a consensus failed.

He said, “There is no truth at all (in the disagreement) because either process is recognized by our constitution. We, in Edo State, have always had our preference for a consensus (arrangement).

“We will only go for direct primaries, if we fail to achieve a consensus.”