Eminent Nigerians from various walks of life yesterday reacted to the brutal murder of the Principal Private Secretary, PPS, to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde, descibing the assasination as one too many.
Those who condemned the murder include Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the Oba of Benin, Omo ‘N’ Oba ‘N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediuwa, former Senate Whip, Senator Rowland Owie, Lagos Lawyer, Festus Keyamo, Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, first civilian governor of Edo State, Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Rev. Peter Obadan-former deputy Governor of Edo Stae.
They expressed shock over the killing of the Principal Private Secretary, PPS, to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde.
The Benin monarch made his feeling known also yesterday when he granted audience to the Governor in his palace in Benin City.
Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor,
According to the Oba, “when I heard the news of the death of your private secretary, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde on Independent Television, I was shocked.
We leave everything in the hands of God. We will keep on praying”.
He however appealed to the political gladiators in the state to play the game according to the rules.
Earlier, Comrade Oshiomhole had narrated the ugly incident where three journalists in his convoy were killed, adding that, “We have sent a petition to the Commissioner of Police in which we informed him of the meeting held at the residence of the godfather where they took a critical evaluation of the forth coming election.
“They agreed that it was impossible for them to win. They then resolved to take series of actions to intimidate my person and if possible eliminate me. At that meeting, they said they will kill under the guise of armed robbery.
They will kidnap and few weeks to the elections they will detonate bombs in parts of the state to scare voters “he said
The Governor told the Oba that he invited the Commissioner of Police and impressed on him on the need for a thorough investigation into the convoy crash in which he escaped elimination.
“I travelled to Abuja to complain to the Inspector General of Police, IGP and the President who agreed to convene a national security meeting”, he added,
However, Rev. Obadan described Oyerinde’s murder as ‘’an by cowards,’’ adding that the former PPS was a fine gentleman, crusader and humble.
‘’The entire state must rise up to condemn this act. I don’t think politics should be played in this manner. It should be without bitterness and we can always disagree and agree. When we look, we know that government has never concluded any investigation on killing. We have many cases like that but on this I plead with security agencies to look into it to avoid us pointing fingers at one another which will heighten the differences we already have. It is the confirmation of the attempt on the life of the Governor some few days ago, and I believe strongly that those executing this act by the grace of God will be found out.
The killing has only encouraged people to do that which are right; vanquishing the intension of those who executed this.’’
In his own reaction, Lagos Lawyer, Festus Keyamo said, ‘’I received with shock the news of the gruesome murder of Comrade Oyerinde Olaitan.
’’This frightening news comes a few days after there were attempts on the lives of the Comrade Governor and my friend and brother, his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion.
‘’It is obvious that some elements in Edo State who want power at all cost and who are resistant to change have decided to deep their hands in blood rather than the ballot box.
They will fail. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-First civilian Governor of Edo state
’’This is terrible, most unfortunate, most uncalled for, most devilish. We condole the family. It is obvious now that people want to precipitate trouble in Edo state. They know how fragile things are. People can take easily to vengeance which will mean violence in the state.
My plea to all leaders, particularly the ACN leaders, should be to maintain the greatest show of self control.
They should not fall for the provocation. I think what they are calculating is state of emergency or that the election be postponed because they know that they have lost it. The leaders and followers must show restraint. We must have this election and return Oshiomhole. I trust that the Comrade will call on his followers not to retaliate.
We must not help these evil people turn Edo state into a theatre of blood. It is a pity politics has degenerated to this level of desperation.’’ Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-First civilian Governor of Edo state
’’This is terrible, most unfortunate, most uncalled for, most devilish.
We condole the family.
It is obvious now that people want to precipitate trouble in Edo state. They know how fragile things are. People can take easily to vengeance which will mean violence in the state. My plea to all leaders, particularly the ACN leaders, should be to maintain the greatest show of self control. They should not fall for the provocation.
I think what they are calculating is state of emergency or that the election be postponed because they know that they have lost it.
The leaders and followers must show restraint. We must have this election and return Oshiomhole. We must not help these evil people turn Edo state into a theatre of blood.’’
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba also called on politicians to be more circumspect in their attitude and utterances in order to sustain the gains recorded in our democratic experience.
Lagos ACN calls for investigations:
The Lagos State chapter of the ACN warned that those who want to conquer Edo State through killing and assassination that they would be made to bear the brunt of their dastardly act.
In a release in Lagos, signed by the state Publicity Secretary of ACN, Joe Igbokwe, the party insisted on level playing ground in all elections where ideas determine who gets eventually chosen by the electorates.
In a statement by his Director of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon said “the dastardly killing of Oyerinde confirms our fears and suspicion that the “accident” in the convoy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole was a plot to assassinate the Governor by the same agents of do-or-die politics who believe that Edo state must be ‘captured’ from the ACN come next governorship election.
“It is therefore incumbent on the President Jonathan, to call to order, those whose utterances and actions in recent times have pointed to glaring plots to stoke fires of confusion.’’
Ajimobi also mourns.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State also commiserated with his Edo State counterpart, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over the killing of his PPS, Olaitan Oyerinde, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen yesterday, in his Benin residence.
His Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, described the killing as heinous, wicked and barbaric.
“The masterminds are nothing sort of agents of darkness, who are hell bent on visiting Edo State with a reign of terror, all in a bid to take over the state through the backdoor and set it on the path of retrogression again.
