N300m houses for Oshiomhole, Odubu: 12 injured as protesters clash in Benin

Twelve persons were seriously injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed when pro and anti-government protesters clashed in Benin on Tuesday over the alleged plan of the Edo State Government to build N300 million retirement homes for former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Pius Odubu.
The pro-government group and members of some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) fought at Ring Road, Benin, when the latter marched through the streets over the amendment of the law for the pension of the governor.
Edo State House of Assembly last week amended the 2007 Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law to include the provision of a building valued N200 million for a former governor and N100 million for his deputy.
Dr Justin Okunobor, Speaker of the assembly, had said that the new provision was justified as there was an existing law on pension benefits for former governors and deputies.
The civil society groups had claimed that the amendment would ensure the provision of a N200 million house for Oshiomhole and another N100 million house for Odubu.
The anti-government protesters, under the aegis of Edo Civil Society Organisations, had converged on the museum ground in Benin as early as 8 a.m. and marched toward the Anthony Enahoro House of Assembly Complex to announce their rejection of the new pension benefits.
The civil society groups were confronted by those who supported the amendment and prevented them from gaining access to the major entrance of the building.
The challenge resulted in the CSO members running away, while security operatives who had taken position at strategic positions around the assembly premises watched.
Some protesters sustained injuries during the fight which lasted about an hour, while some vehicles and public address systems used by the CSOs were vandalised.
As a result of the fight, passersby scampered to safety.
Spokesperson for the civil society groups, Osazee Edigin, claimed that his members were attacked by thugs allegedly sponsored by the government.
“They mobilised thugs to attack us and we are trying to revive a guy who fainted. The thugs have taken over Ring Road,’’ Edigin said.
Three vehicles, including a car mounted with public address system belonging to members of the CSOs, were vandalised during the crisis.
Due to the pandemonium, several people lost their cell phones and other vital belongings.
Another activist, Omobude Agho, condemned the action of the thugs whom he said were unleashed on the peaceful protesters by the state government, describing the incident as an attempt to murder democracy in the state.
Omobude said: “These were people protesting without even broom, you saw how they destroyed cars, we just rushed one of us to the hospital now. I was beaten mercilessly and many other comrades were beaten mercilessly. We were shocked to see that some members of the past government in a blue Mercedes Benz driving and giving them (youths) instructions. We saw some people we recognized very clearly, we know them, they are politicians whose wives and children are not in this state, they are not even in this country. I think our democracy has eventually been murdered.”
“No matter what they do, we want to send a clear message to members of the House of Assembly and the governor of Edo State that we will not give up. The fight will continue, we shall employ all means to continue this fight and resist the obnoxious policy of Edo State government.”
On the alleged sponsorship by the opposition PDP, Omobude said: “I am shocked if anybody says we are sponsored by the PDP because you can see that among us are even card-carrying members of the APC, it is not about the party that anybody belongs, it is about the policy and how it affects the people of Edo State. Whether you are APC or PDP does not matter. I stand to say that I am not a member of any political party and I am not willing to become one because for me, the APC and the PDP are the same, give them the opportunity and both parties will perpetuate the same”.
On his part, Edigin added: “This state belongs to all of us, if we don’t say the truth now, our children’s children will suffer it. I don’t expect a responsible government to use thugs on law abiding citizens; it is not done in a democratic setting and we are disappointed in the members of the House of Assembly; this is not the end of this fight, we are going to go ahead and when we come back, they will know that power truly belongs to the people.”
He urged Edo youths to wake up now and rescue the state from the hands of rascals and thugs.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Mr John Mayaki, said the state government recognised the rights and freedom of citizens to express their opinion on public issues and would not do anything to infringe on their freedom.
Mayaki said there was no iota of truth in the claim of the CSOs as government would not in any way attempt to gag people’s freedom.