EDO LEGISLATIVE QUARTERS’

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has strongly condemned the apparently-orchestrated attack on Edo legislative quarters on Saturday, saying the attack raised the level of impunity under the Jonathan Administration to a level not even contemplated in the days of military rule.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said based on the ease with which the thugs invaded a facility that should be well secured and the ample time they had to damage over 30 cars and inflict injuries on legislators and their families, there is no question that the attack was carried out with the collusion of the lawless PDP and the increasingly-partisan police.

The statement said it was highly indictive that Governor of Edo state Mr Adams Oshiomhole claimed that his government got intelligence report on the attack and informed the State Police Commissioner but instead of sending in reinforcement to prevent the attack, the few policemen attached to the quarters were withdrawn before the incident. 

 APC said in the statement that the attack is another indication of a police force that is being bankrolled by all taxpayers becoming shamelessly partisan and engaging in selective implementation of its constitutional role of protecting the lives and property of the citizenry.

APC said, however, that the atmosphere for the attack was created by a President whose body language encourages impunity, converted the police and the army to his party’s militia while he   presides over a government that is incapable of maintaining law and order, not to talk of protecting the citizens.

The party said whether in Rivers State, where the police was used to harass the opposition, including the Governor or  Ekiti, where the police stood by as  thugs  beat Judges and sacked  courts  and the same Ekiti, where   the police and other security agents were  used to prevent courts from re-opening as ordered by the National Judicial Council, or Edo, where the police have offered protection to renegade lawmakers at the expense of the majority, the Jonathan Administration has given a free rein to impunity like never before in the history of Nigeria.

Wrt/oed.