The embattled All Progressives Congress, APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, has admitted to Thisday newspaper that he was stoned and booed on his arrival at the Benin City airport yesterday February 22, 2020.
Oshiomhole’s position is however a far departure from the earlier denial by his handlers that security personnels repelled the APC youths before his arrival.
A viral video that circulated widely yesterday showed a scene of angry party members chasing the former governor’s convoy, while chanting, “Oshiomhole, wor-wor, wor-wor… Oshiomhole, thief.” Gun shots sound rented the air, as his assailants hauled missles on his vehicle.
The report quoted Oshiomhole as saying that: “Yes, I was attacked by thugs”, who he alleged were sponsored by the State Governor.
The APC chairman reportedly accused the Edo State Commissioner of Police of complicity, for failing to arrest his attackers.
He said he was earlier advised by the Police Commissioner not to come to Benin City due to the security situation, but he turned down the appeal.
The report quoted Oshiomhole as saying that the Commissioner of Police said, “…he doesn’t want me to come because of the situation at the airport and the number of thugs that had converged there.
“Why don’t you arrest them? Why will you ask me instead, not to come to attend a private function… I told him I’m coming and that it is for him to provide necessary security.
“So, I landed in Benin. With the aid of the security personnel at the airport, I was able to get out of the plane to the lounge and proceeded to the car and the thugs were stoning my convoy. Well, I got home safe. You have seen the photographs of the vehicles.
“They even had to move armoured tanks to the airport.”
This is the second time in a while, that APC youths have laid siege to stone their national chairman’s convoy in Benin City.