Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin-City
An aid to Governor Godwin Obaseki, in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Mrs. Maris Igbons, on Monday, accused the chairman of the council, Patrick Aguinede, of sponsoring thugs to beat her up to in her shop.
Igbons was one of the Special Assistants appointed by Governor Obaseki from each of the 192 wards across the state.
Igbons, a mother of four children, made the allegation from her hospital bed in Benin while speaking with newsmen.
Narrating her ordeal in the hands of her attackers, she said she was in her shop when suddenly four men came to her to tell her that they had been instructed by the council chairman, Barr. Aguinede, to carry out the order given to traders to remove attachments attached to their shops.
She said they had earlier asked her to remove part of the extension of the shop from the walkway which she had already done.
Igbons added that while she was about to remove her show glass from the walk way which they complained about, suddenly the four men dragged it from her hand and smashed it on the ground before raining blows on her.
She said she later found herself at the hospital and that when she inquired what she was doing at the hospital, she was told that her sister rushed her unconscious to the hospital.
Also speaking, Theresa Iregbeyen, who reportedly rushed Igbons to the hospital, lamented that she (Igbons), who reportedly contributed immensely to the survival of the party during the local government election, could be treated in such manner.
On her part, former Vice Chairman of the council, Esther Eghaghe, said it was the contribution of Mrs. Igbons that gave the party victory during the last election in the council.
She appealed to the Party Leader to prevail on the council chairman to work amicably with other leaders in the council in order to always have upper hand during election.
In a swift reaction, the council chairman, Patrick Aguinede, denied having a hand in Igbon’s ordeal.
He said those who went to effect the relocation order were core civil servants who were doing their duty, adding that whoever linked him to the incident was not being fair to him.