Oshiomhole in assassination scare • Sacks ADC, CSO, escort commander

VINCENT ADEKOYE, Senior Correspondent, Benin

There was a major security shake-up yesterday in Edo State, following alleged assassination attempt on Governor Adams Oshiomhole, by unidentified persons reportedly working in collaboration with some security men attached to his office.






http://odili.net/news/source/2009/may/8/100.html

Daily Champion gathered from a security source that the incident which happened on Wednesday, led to the immediate redeployment of some security chiefs attached to the governor and his wife, Clara.

Those relieved of their duties include the Aide-de-camp (ADC) to the governor and his wife; the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and as well as the escort commander.

Also affected in the shake up are the regular uniform policemen and the mobile policemen and other undercover security men posted to the office of the governor.

The development led yesterday to the cancellation of official engagements of the governor outside the state capital, even as new sets of mobile policemen from nearby formations have been drafted to keep surveillance on his official residence.

Meanwhile, Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Dalami Yar’Adua, and other senior police officers in the state held an emergency meeting yesterday with a view to finding a safe way of handling the volatile security matter.

Also, leaders of the Action Congress (AC) in the state were said to have held a secret meeting where they discussed the latest development. Details of the two meetings could not be obtained as at press time.

A statement by Special Adviser to the governor of Public Affairs and Strategy, Mr. Eric Osagie, said: "There has been a change in the security apparatus of the governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The affected personnel in the strategic overhaul include the ADC, CSO and the escort commander of the Government House.

"Being officers of the Nigeria Police Force such assignment and re-assignments of the rank and file, falls within the jurisdiction of the police organisation which effected the reassignment of the aforementioned officers.

"The exercise we believe will strengthen the internal security processes of the governor and the Government House and allow the governor time to focus on the developmental challenges confronting the state.

"We urge the good people of Edo State to continue to support the comrade governor in his determination to build a state we all can be proud of, economically buoyant, socially conducive and a peaceful home for all."

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Mr. Peter Ogboi, confirmed the development but said it was a normal security re-organisation bearing in mind that some of those affected have been with the governor since he assumed power.

Daily Champion investigations however revealed the cause of the assassination plot and how it was eventually aborted.

A reliable source close to the governor said before now, there had been two major camps among the security men attached to Oshiomhole’s office, with each faction pledging loyalty to the ADC of the CSO.

The friction between the two security chiefs reportedly led to several security lapses with each of the camps refusing to admit responsibility for the lapses.

Prominent among the security breaches was the invasion of the governor’s office by one unidentified woman few weeks ago, who was suspected to have been armed with native charms.

Our source said: "Could you imagine, in a place where you do not have armed security men at two main gates, a woman not known to the governor nor any members of his family entered the Government House and came very close to the governor without the security men notice."The woman believed to be armed with some native charms to harm the governor, entered the crowd and grabbed the governor as he was leaving his office for an engagement within his office.

"You will agree with me that if that woman happened to be a gunman, he would have easily killed the governor in the full glare of security men."

It was gathered that the latest shake up was coming on the heels of a petition by another arm of security details attached to the office of the governor, which raised alarm on the glaring threat to the governor’s life.

Though details of the petition could not be obtained, it was learnt that it alluded to the unresolved crisis among the security men attached to the office of the governor, saying that the development had led to the compromising of vital security matters.

The petition was said to have jolted the governor who immediately alerted the necessary security departments within and outside the state.

When newsmen visited the governor’s office yesterday, new security measures were introduced as visitors were thoroughly searched by security men before being allowed to enter the premises. Those who could not offer plausible reasons for being in the place were turned back

Who is save in that land If the governor can be under-protected despite his power to make things happen ?

not supprised,
i am aware that benin has a lot of witches which inhibits growth and development.
the comerade governor should be very carefull, but with GOD and the OBA of benin on his side,
no probs.

na wa o!

Naija na wa.

God will surely all true leaders in Naija through, Amen

About time Oshiomole starts some serious work abeg.

kosovo:

not supprised,
i am aware that benin has a lot of witches which inhibits growth and development.
the comerade governor should be very carefull, but with GOD and the OBA of benin on his side,
no probs.

u are a bag of shitte, mind d way u talk

safex101:

u are a bag of shitte, mind d way u talk

one of them.? i mean the witches
yes, i guessed right.
what a waste.

So now they cant wait to rig the next election;they want to replace an incumbent person.
(ie if its politically motivated which it must be considering the guts involved )

pastor adeboye went out on a limb with that prophecy. It must be pretty hard to predict political assassinations in Nigeria.

what next, someone would be stricken with malaria?

sleek_p:

About time Oshiomole starts some serious work abeg.

how do you expect him to work when the internal revenue of the state is N1.7b/year.
if the people refuse to pay TAXES, then there is nothing he can do. he has a made a pledge of
N1.5b/month, which he hope to collect via TAX, if they refuse should he pluck money from his backyard even now that the Federal allocation has droped from N3.8B/month to less than N1.8B/month.

kosovo:

how do you expect him to work when the internal revenue of the state is N1.7b/year.
if the people refuse to pay TAXES, then there is nothing he can do. he has a made a pledge of
N1.5b/month, which he hope to collect via TAX, if they refuse should he pluck money from his backyard even now that the Federal allocation has droped from N3.8B/month to less than N1.8B/month.

It clearly shows u kn noting abt Edo State,what abt wking with wht is available,people must complain abt a new regime of tax,even in america,so stop been anti edo people.

safex101:

It clearly shows u kn noting abt Edo State,what abt wking with wht is available,people must complain abt a new regime of tax,even in america,so stop been anti edo people.

you are even more DUMB than i thought.
what a waste of bandwidth!

Adams is paranoid - mek e go see im mate for lagos as that one dey work. The man is full of hot air and excuses.

SapeleGuy:

Adams is paranoid - mek e go see im mate for lagos as that one dey work. The man is full of hot air and excuses.

if only you knew that lagos make N17B/MONTH. from it's internally generated revenue, you wouldn't have made your plain , unassuming and unintelligent comment.

U GUYS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT EDO STATE.OSHIOMOLE IS NOT DOING ANY THING AS A GOVERNOR, AM FROM EDO STATE, HE IS JUST THERE FUCKING OUR SMALL SMALL GIRLS,

ABEG MAKE E GO SELF, I NOR PRAY MAKE E DIE SHALL BUT I EXPECT HIM TO WORK,

190, na lie i talk

kosovo:

you are even more DUMB than i thought.
what a waste of bandwidth!

U are a f***k,i'm out of here to get some sleep

safex101:

U are a f***k,i'm out of here to get some sleep

get lost!

chelseabmw:

U GUYS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT EDO STATE.OSHIOMOLE IS NOT DOING ANY THING AS A GOVERNOR, AM FROM EDO STATE, HE IS JUST THERE FUCKING OUR SMALL SMALL GIRLS,

ABEG MAKE E GO SELF, I NOR PRAY MAKE E DIE SHALL BUT I EXPECT HIM TO WORK,

190, na lie i talk

dont worry the governor will come and pay you to Bleep ur M*M and SIS.

All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the sane senses

and you are insane. SO? NO HOPE

@kosovo

Go and sleep instead of wasting time writing rubbish.Everybody all have there story to tell,so what is ur business with my post?Please mind ur busy as i just want to be cool on nairaland.Please

chelseabmw:

U GUYS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT EDO STATE.OSHIOMOLE IS NOT DOING ANY THING AS A GOVERNOR, AM FROM EDO STATE, ABEG MAKE E GO SELF, I NOR PRAY MAKE E DIE SHALL BUT I EXPECT HIM TO WORK,

190, na lie i talk

Well, a friend of mine  came back from Edo State last weekend and he confirmed that the Oshiomole seems to be taking his time. I do wonder if we can get people to, rather than feeling sorry for him, compare him with people like Fashola and many others who face the same problems but still get some work done. I would bet that Fashola, and other governors in the same country, who have been able to at least show they are not here to sit back as others before them, since taking office, face similar threats and deal with similar barriers.

THANKS FOR THE INFO, DID U SAY HE IS TAKING HIS TIME DID U ALSO SAY WE SHOULD FEEL SORRY FOR HIM?

ARE U HUMAN?? OR U ARE AN ALIEN

PLEASE NOR LET BENIN PEOPLE HEAR SAY U WRITE THESE KIND THING, PLS HOPE U ARE JOKING?

kosovo, there is no need for insults.

there has never been a time when edo has made as much money as lagos in terms of revenue. There will always be disparity in state allocations, that in itself is not an excuse not to do anything or have a record of zero achievement.

Adams never had any strategy for change or dealing with a house of assembly where PDP outnumber AC. He came in with fanfare and promises after 8 years of "unlucky lucky" the people of edo deserve more than these pathetic excuses.

Adams is finding out that reactive activism with nlc is a different ballgame to government where you have to be proactive.

What we are witnessing is a lack of vision and total unpreparedness for leadership. How can you go to the press to say some woman with charms tried to kill him. What foolishness, has any body ever been prosecuted for attempted murder with JUJU?

welcome to naija. politics of power by all means

who the heck wants to assasinate my adams for me

na new tin?

What we are witnessing is a lack of vision and total unpreparedness for leadership. How can you go to the press to say some woman with charms tried to kill him. What foolishness, has any body ever been prosecuted for attempted murder with JUJU?

There's always a first time. . .

I visited Edo State in 2005 and I must confess that the state is a disgrace to the Benin people who have a rich culture and heritage. I'm from Edo State though I'm not Bini. The place was sickening and loads of roads were not tarred. I went with my aunt to different places in the capital including Sapele road and the Oba Market. I saw the statue of Emotan. Governor Oshiomhole has a lot of work to do. Edo people are difficult to govern o. I'm not surprised at the assassination attempt made on his life. It is also true that a lot of charms are used freely in the State. I don't want to say too much, but Edo State has to be rescued from the jaws of poverty and absolute lack of infrastructure.

Yes o.
The state it took people over a decade to destroy, Oshiomhole has to fix it now now.
Abeg where is his magic wand jo??

From most of the comments here. Most Nigerians deserve the Lucky Igbinedion's and Obasanjo's of this world.