. . . Demands public apology to Edo First Lady

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been urged to call Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a chieftain of the party, to order ahead of the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election.

Oshiomhole, a former two-term governor of the state, has, since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on political campaigns on April 23, been engaging in personal attacks, abuses, and insults against political opponents, according to a statement released by Team Asue Campaign Organisation (TAMO) on Tuesday in Benin City.

TAMO expressed concern over “Oshiomhole’s consistent focus on destructive rhetoric rather than on issues”. The media team of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, recalled that “Oshiomhole employed similar tactics against Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in 2016, leading to a character assassination that couldn't be undone when fate brought them together again in 2020. As a result, Ize-Iyamu was defeated by the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki.”

It recalled that, “In 2020, Oshiomhole also targeted Obaseki, along with former deputy governor and Oshiomhole's protégé, Philip Shaibu, who then sensationally claimed on national television that ‘Oshiomhole is our father, but we know he has mental problems; we will take him home and take care of him’.”

TAMO lamented that, “Oshiomhole's recent actions, including a vicious verbal attack on Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, have crossed the line and displayed his utter disregard for women. TAMO cited previous instances, such as when Oshiomhole told a widow to ‘go and die’ and humiliated a female teacher by forcing her to read her affidavit on live television.”

TAMO called on APC “to immediately rein in Oshiomhole, as his continuous personal attacks have escalated to a dangerous level that could incite violence and unrest across the state”.

It emphasised the importance of peaceful elections, saying: “Dr. Ighodalo has consistently advocated for issue-based campaigns free from character assassination, a principle Oshiomhole, of whom basic common decency ought to be expected at his age, has totally disregarded by resorting to name-calling, spreading lies, and launching ad hominem attacks of the most personal kind.”

Concluding, the statement said: “TAMO condemns Oshiomhole’s premeditated attack on Mrs. Obaseki and demands a public apology. The remarks made by Oshiomhole are seen as an affront to decency and the values that should guide political discourse. The claim that Oshiomhole was responding to an attack by Mrs. Obaseki on Monday Okpebholo, his party's candidate, is dismissed as an afterthought, as she did not mention any names. TAMO hopes Oshiomhole will see the need to publicly apologize to all women in Edo State for insulting and embarrassing their 2mother’.”