…Allegations of planned demolition false, figment of PDP’s imagination, counters Edo Govt
By Idahosa Musa
BENIN CITY – Edo State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has kicked against the alleged plan by the state government to demolish the residential buildings of two of its chieftains in the State, over their alleged involvement in secret cult-related activities in Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area on Monday.
Alltimepost.com gathered that the intended victims are the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and Member, representing Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency, Hon. Marcus Onobun and Hon. Collins Aigbogun, the embattled Esan West Local Government Council Chairman.
It would be recalled that the state government on Tuesday allegedly marked Hon. Onobun’s house at Iruekpen for possible demolition, over his alleged involvement in secret cult-related activities
It was further gathered that some hoodlums suspected to be members of the Supreme Eiye Confraternity (Eiye) were said to have regrouped at Onobun’s residence in Iruekpen on Monday.
The federal lawmaker immediately denied the allegation, saying that the allegation was aimed at destroying his reputation and forcing him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under which he was elected into the National Assembly.
According to sources residing in Iruekpen, Onobun’s house was marked for possible demolition on Tuesday morning with the inscription written on the perimeter fence by government officials reading: “X ESDBCA,10/6/25”.
Reacting to the development on Wednesday through a press statement, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of PDP in Edo, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, described the alleged plan of the state government as unwarranted, describing it as political witch-hunting.
He claimed that the government has continued its trend of oppression, tyranny and intimidation to suppress opposition and coerce citizens into silence.
“This time, it is Hon. Marcus Onobun, the member representing Esan West, Esan Central, and Igueben Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Hon. Collins Aigbogun, Esan West Local Government Council Chairman who are being jolted with the marking of their property in their hometowns for arbitrary demolition.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this perpetual resort to political harassment and witch-hunt in a desperate attempt to intimidate, silence, and cripple the opposition in Edo State.
“This brazen move by the state government represents a disturbing abuse of power and a misuse of legislation to target political opponents.This is not law enforcement; it is a political witch-hunt*.
“The Anti-Cultism Law, as passed, clearly stipulates that property can only be subject to forfeiture or demolition after a valid conviction by a competent court of law.
“At present, there is no such conviction against Hon Onobun and Hon Aigbogun only baseless, unsubstantiated allegations”, the statement said.
The statement maintained that the country is governed by law, not by executive fiat.
“The weaponisation of laws to stifle opposition voices and intimidate perceived political rivals is not only a threat to democracy in Edo but a dangerous precedent for other states in Nigeria.
“We also want to put on notice the policemen, bulldozer drivers as well as owners of the bulldozers that they will be held liable if for any reason they participate in the supervision, destruction or demolishing of any building or property without a valid court order.
“They should know that they do not enjoy immunity that the governor enjoys and the law frowns at the execution of unlawful orders”, Aziegbemi added
The Party, however, demanded immediate halt to the alleged planned demolitions and called on the state government to retrace its steps and respect the legal rights and fundamental freedoms of Onobun and Aigbogun, regardless of political affiliation.
Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, however, denied the allegations that the government had marked Onobun and Aigbogun’s houses for demolition.
Itua said that the claim was false and the figment of imagination of the PDP and other mischief makers.
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