The Coalition of the Edo Civil Society Organizations has dismissed claims that leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were attacked and shot at during events in Benin City on Tuesday, February 24, describing the reports as misleading and politically motivated.
In a press statement signed by the Convener, Braimoh Idris, and Co-Convener, Andrew Akhere, after briefing journalists, the coalition expressed concern over what it termed fabricated narratives being circulated about the incident at the ADC secretariat and the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
The group specifically accused former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, of attempting to twist the narrative to attract public sympathy by alleging that he escaped an assassination attempt and that his convoy was shot at.
It also criticised a national newspaper over its editorial on the incident, alleging that the publication wrongly reported that Mr Obi’s convoy came under gunfire and that both he and Chief Oyegun escaped assassination.
According to the coalition, an independent investigation it conducted, including interviews with witnesses at the ADC secretariat, security operatives at Chief Oyegun’s residence and residents in the neighbourhood, the reported attack was not true.
The group maintained that its findings showed that no gunshot was fired at the ADC secretariat and that neither Mr Obi nor Chief Oyegun was the target of any assassination attempt.
It stated that the political event at the ADC secretariat had been concluded and that all dignitaries, including journalists, had departed before hoodlums reportedly stormed the area.
The coalition further claimed that when the alleged attackers arrived at Chief Oyegun’s residence, both he and Mr Obi were inside the fortified premises, adding that only stones were thrown at vehicles parked outside the residence.
Questioning the assassination narrative, the group asked why several vehicles remained unaffected if the two political leaders were indeed targets, and demanded clarification on the actions of the police escorts attached to them, including whether any shots were fired in response.
The coalition went further to allege that the ADC instigated the incident to generate public sympathy.
It called for calm across Edo State and urged political actors to conduct their affairs within the bounds of the law, warning against attempts to manufacture crises for political advantage.
