… University sets up investigative panel
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The candidate of Labour Party for the September 21st Edo State governorship election, Mr. Olumide Akpata, yesterday, accused an unnamed senior government official of the Edo State Government as the mastermind of his attack late Friday afternoon at the University of Benin.
The Labour Party governorship candidate was a guest at an interactive session organized by the University’s Senior Staff Club which event was violently interrupted, resulting in pandemonium within the school premises.
Olumide in a viral video released yesterday, said a senior lecturer who sustained injury as a result of the attack is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Benin.
He debunked allegations that his security personnel shot a student of the University, describing claim as “another lie from the pit of hell”.
He said at the appropriate time a detail report of the incident and those involved would be made known to the police for appropriate action.
“My staff drew my attention to a video that is making the rounds currently of an individual who claim to be shot at an event I attended yesterday and claimed to have been shot by security agents. I looked at the video and nothing can be further than the truth. I only wished that the individual can show his face and determine the veracity of his story.
“I was invited to the University of Benin senior staff club to hold an interactive session with members of the club. I’m told that a similar event took place a couple of weeks ago by the PDP candidate. To our surprise and consternation, this event was interrupted very rudely by some hoodlums who claimed to be students of University of Benin.
“They disrupted the event, insisting that it shouldn’t be held without informing them, you can imagine how shocked we were, including the professors there. They barricaded the gate with their vehicles, there were fracas in the precinct of the club, a lecturer was injured and he is at the hospital. I had to be taken away by security personnel and even as we attempted to leave Uniben the highway was barricaded. It took my security personnel to remove the barricade before we continued our journey.
“We know what is going on. It is election season and it is quite obvious some of our old and very tired politicians are up to their usual antics and they have learnt nothing. I have it on good authority that those hoodlums were deployed by a senior official of the Edo State Government and I’m speaking directly to this official now. I know you and you know me.
“I want to place it on record that at no time was the student of the University of Benin shot. The video was sent to bring misinformation, I was the one who was attacked, Professors were attacked
Meanwhile, the Management of the University of Benin in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, has condemned the reported violence.
“The Management of the University of Benin has condemned in strong terms reported violence during the visit of the Edo State Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr Olumide Akpata, on invitation by the Senior Staff Club of the Institution.
“The violent incident, allegedly perpetrated by some students, is unacceptable. Consequently, Management has set up a Committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the violent action.
“The Committee, headed by Professor Frederick Ekhaise, has one week to submit a report to Management”, the statement said.