A former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in Edo State, Efe Stewart, on Tuesday, denied involvement in last Thursday’s political violence in the state.
The convoy of the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was attacked by gunmen last Thursday which led to the death of a police officer, Inspector Akor Onuh.
The incident has pitched the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC in the state against each other, with both calling for a probe while indicting opposition members as those involved in the mayhem.
Stewart, who dumped the PDP for the APC after moving to the PDP with Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, was one of those that the PDP and the state government accused of being behind the shooting.
However, Stewart told newsmen in Benin, the state capital, that the allegation by the state government in a petition to the Inspector General of Police was targeted at tarnishing his rising political profile and reputation following his defection to the APC.
He noted that he left the ruling PDP to the APC due to irreconcilable differences after putting in so much resources and energy in his capacity as a chieftain of his former party.
He said that having served the Obaseki-led government as a commissioner, he remained committed to enthroning good governance and leadership in the state.
He explained that while some politicians in his locality, and Egor Local Government Area were pursuing their selfish interests by running the party aground, the party failed to rein in the likes of such disgruntled politicians and he found it unacceptable and dumped the PDP.
He said, “This is to let Edo residents know that I was not involved in last Thursday’s political violence, which claimed the life of a police officer.
“I left the PDP when it became obvious that I could not work with the person spearheading the PDP activities in my local government in Egor..”
He urged the public to disregard the falsehood in a statement by the state government which allegedly dragged him into the violence adding that he has no business whatsoever with the PDP and their co-travellers who are busy disturbing the peace of the state instead of focusing on winning the September governorship election.
