As the political space of Edo State gets thicker and more toxic, allegations and rumours are flying in an escort manner and the innocent citizens are being fed with different stories by political actors who at this time are seeking relevance and purse enrichment.
A few days ago, a one-time senatorial candidate in Edo South under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress, Valentine Asuen took to social media to taint the deputy governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, alleging that he extorted him an amount of 6 million naira, a claim the Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Comrade Musa Ebomhiana rebuffed with instances.
In a new development from the office of the deputy governor, the Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana has once again released another statement to clarify the situation.
In the release titled “VALENTINE ASUEN’S TISSUES OF LIES AGAINST PHILIP SHAIBU; SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT” as made available to Platinum News on Wednesday evening, the office of the deputy governor has threatened legal action against the Asuen, should he fail to tender an unreserved apology.
“Our attention has been drawn to the malicious press statement made by one Valentine Asuen also known as DVD against the person and office of Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu. The said statement is riddled with puerile conjectures, infantile lies, belly-aching, outright misinformation and imbecilic bigotry.””Valentine Asuen claimed without evidence that the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon.Comrade Phillip Shaibu confiscated two of his fuel trucks and made him part with six million naira before the trucks were released. He claimed that the action was politically motivated and an attempt to destroy his business. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As a member of that task force, I’m in a position to put the records straight without.”
“Valentine Asuen claimed without evidence that the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon.Comrade Phillip Shaibu confiscated two of his fuel trucks and made him part with six million naira before the trucks were released. He claimed that the action was politically motivated and an attempt to destroy his business. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As a member of that task force, I’m in a position to put the records straight without.”
THE FACTS
“On November 6, 2023, the Edo State Government set up a Task Force charged with the task of decongesting major roads in the Benin metropolis and ensuring the free flow of traffic. The Task Force was further charged with the task of dismantling illegal Truck Parks along highways that are aggravating traffic congestion and causing damage to our roads. This Taskforce was chaired by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN (then Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner for Justice). Its members included the heads of the following government agencies; PUWOV, EDSTMA and Ministry of Physical Planning, CSO Government House, amongst others.”
“In the course of doing their job along Muritala Muhammed Way, close to 3rd East Circular junction, 12 trucks belonging to different petrol dealers were found violating traffic regulations, converting a portion of the public road to a private Truck Park and causing willful physical damage to a long stretch of the road. The Trucks were impounded and kept in government custody by EDSTMA, pending further investigation and prosecution. It was later discovered that two of the trucks belonged to Valentine Asuen; The law however is no respecter of persons.”
“As it is the tradition with the Edo State Government, the option of paying for repairs of willful damage to government property as a plea bargain against prosecution was activated and supervised by the Attorney General who was the Chairman of the Task Force. The Ministry of Physical Planning got several firms to quote for the job.”
“A reputable firm, MACFRANKLY NIG LTD got the bid for the reconstruction of the damaged portion of the road. The cost burden was shared by the different owners of the trucks.”
“Valentine Asuen however imagined himself bigger than the law and due process. He approached the Deputy Governor to bend the law, but the Deputy Governor refused as it was against his oath of office and his commitment to the rule of law. Valentine claimed in his press statement that he called the Deputy Governor’s wife more than fifty times to intervene but she could not because the law is no respecter of anyone.”
“The Deputy Governor’s position was that if cab drivers who caused damages to electric poles due to reckless driving are made to pay by the Government, why should he intervene to save his millionaire friend whose trucks caused damage to public infrastructure and contravenes traffic regulations? Would his intervention not have made him an accomplice? Would it have been fair to the other persons whose trucks were also involved?”
“This is the offence that was termed by Asuen as political witch-hunting, ethnic profiling and an attempt to kill his business.”
“Asuen who was a candidate for office at that time preferred that his company was not prosecuted and settled the issue by paying as others did for repair work. After his disastrous political outing, he is now fishing for public sympathy and rehabilitation. He imagined wrongly that attacking the Deputy Governor’s reputation with a tissue of lies and untrue ethnic gas-lighting would help him revive a jaundiced political career.”
“He imagined that becoming an opportunistic sycophant would make him new friends in high places on the altar of ethnic bigotry and small-mindedness. What he needs is to humble himself, and commit genuinely to serving the Edo people and not his insatiable greed, and petulant penchant for eye service.”
“Asuen who was a candidate for office at that time preferred that his company was not prosecuted and settled the issue by paying as others did for repair work. After his disastrous political outing, he is now fishing for public sympathy and rehabilitation. He imagined that becoming an opportunistic sycophant would make him new friends in high places on the altar of ethnic bigotry and small-mindedness.”
“What he needs is to humble himself, and commit genuinely to serving the Edo people and not his insatiable greed, petulant penchant for eye service and cheap blackmail”
“It is strange that almost a year after the event and without provocation, Asuen would make this curious and spurious allegation aimed at undermining the good standing of our highly esteemed Deputy Governor in the estimation of reasonable members of our united Edo.”
“His infantile and shallow press statement has shown that he was never a material for the High office of the Senate to represent the very intelligent and cultured people of Edo South. It can now be said that Edo South dodged a bullet. He may wish to start climbing the ladder of politics and business by taking essential tutorials in altruistic statesmanship and perfecting all his business documents and licences. We demand an unreserved apology from Asuen otherwise we institute legal action against him.”