Reverend Olu Martins, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy director-general (media), governorship campaign organisation in Edo state, has been arrested by the police and subsequently charged over inciting and inflammatory statements.
CP Funsho Adegboye, the state commissioner of police, revealed this to journalists in Benin, the Edo state capital, on Tuesday, June 11. He added that the statement of the PDP spokesperson can cause violence in the state.
The statement reads in part:
“There was a viral video of an inflammatory statement made by Rev. Olu Martins that can heat up the electioneering campaign processes in the state.
“He was invited to serve as a deterrent to others of like behaviours, and we also decided that the matter should be resolved at the court.”
PM News reported that the police boss then appealed to political players and actors in the oil-rich state to play the game according to the rules and regulations.
Adegboye stated that electioneering processes are supposed to be interesting, glamorous and well educated enough to inspire up and coming politicians and not the one that could lead to tension in the state or encourage the people to put up a criminal attitude.
He expressed the command’s readiness to decisively deal with any politician who ran against the laws of the land, especially laws governing criminal codes and electoral acts. He maintained that no one would be spared, no matter how high-placed the person might be.
TheNGblog earlier reported that Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Edo state government has insisted that the ban on Okaigheles (youth leaders) in the seven local governments under the Benin Kingdom will not be lifted.
This is contradictory to the Oba of Benin’s palace’s position that the kingdom has not banned the Okaigheles and that they remain part of the traditional administrative structure.
Earlier, Governor Obaseki said the ban on the Okaigheles was part of his administration’s efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.
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