Democracy under threat in Edo State -LP, Labour Party spreading cheap propaganda – Oredo LGA

By Mercy Onyenweli

The Edo State Labour Party have cried out over alleged incessant oppression and threat to a democratic system of government  by the State Government led by Godwin Obaseki administration.

The Labour Party made this known through a Press Release signed by the State Public Relation Officer, Comrade Sam Oroupa and made available to Newsmen in Benin City.

According to the Press Statement, the Bill board of Labour Party Candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, Engr. Esosa Iyawe, the Esan Central House of Assembly Candidate, Hon. Emmanuel Eromosele  were pulled down respectively by the instruction of Head of local government administration (HOLGA) in the two local government area.

Part of the statement reads: Our Candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, Engr. Esosa Iyawe billboards located at Airport road, Akenzua road, Ekenwan road and environs duly paid for were pulled down by the Oredo Local Government Council and warned the billboard agent not to hang any Labour party content on them.

The billboard agent  who said his business is being threatened if he fails to abide by the instruction however refunded  the money paid by our candidates to them. In ward 7 at Ugbekun, Ikpoba Okha Local Government, Labour Party secretariat was invaded by thugs suspected to be hired by PDP , who removed all Labour Party Items, including sign post, party flags, banners of our Presidential Candidate and poster of Labour Party Candidates they forcefully hoisted PDP flags, posters and banners.

Narrating the denial of access to Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium during the party Presidential Campaign rally in Benin City coupled with the recent happening, the party alleged that it is a confirmation of the statement of Governor Godwin Obaseki during the official flagg off campaign of a faction of  People Democratic Party (PDP) when he said Labour Party would soon run out of steam in the state,

“ As a party, we have observed that the unfolding events in the state is a direct attack on democracy to deny the people from making free choices. Labour Party is a party widely accepted by the People as the only credible alternative platform to take them out of the present hardship inflicted on them by both the APC at the Federal and PDP at the State level.”

They however called on  Governor Godwin Obaseki to allow democracy thrive as that was the system that brought him to power when he was being oppressed by the Big Wigs in his former party.

Scooping for news, The Crusaders Voice gathered from a source who prefers to be anonymous in Oredo LGA that Labour party Candidate for Oredo, Hon. Iyawe is engaging cheap propaganda that exactly do not exist. According to the source, Oredo do not operate the billboards directly, rather, different outdoor advertisers pay the Local Government yearly and determines whose adverts are displayed on their billboards.

 According to the source, the Local Government never had any dealing with Labour Party in the state as they only deal directly with the billboard owners on a yearly meetings in January of the year.

The Crusaders Voice further gathered that the State Government earlier this year had a meeting with all outdoor Advertisers and informed them of their intention to pay for all the billboards in the state for their party candidates. In the meeting, the first phase of payment was supposed to be made earlier but because there was a delay, the outdoor advertisers started selling their space to any party Candidate who was capable to pay for the space.

The source further stressed that as at the time the state government was ready to pay, it was discovered that the outdoor advertisers have sold out the spaces and the state government draw their attention to their earlier agreement and that was how the outdoors advertisers started refunding money back to candidates of other party who had paid for space.

The source however added that instead of engaging on propaganda, the Labour Party Candidates should make detailed enquires and channeld their complain to the right platform.