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Oshiomole Alleges Plans To Use Soldiers To Intimidate Voters

By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomole of Delta State on Friday accused the military of obtaining vehicles from a private construction company to transport soldiers in civilian clothing who would be used to intimidate voters in today’s presidential election in the state.

Oshiomhole, who made the allegation while speaking to journalists in Benin, said the whole scheme was masterminded by the minister of Works, Mike Onolememen.

He said that the commander of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army secured 13 Hilux vans as donations from the Israeli construction giant, Reynolds Construction Company, and that he had intelligence that they would be used to convey soldiers in mufti to harass and intimidate voters during the polls.

“We have intelligence that the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen deployed 14 vehicles (Hilux) to the premises of RCC. Thirteen of them were transferred to the headquarters of the 4 Brigade yesterday,” the governor alleged.

He stated further that when he confronted the commander of the brigade, Olajide Laleye, a Brigadier General, he explained that he approached the construction company for assistance in providing transportation to aid logistics.

Governor Oshiomole said that he had told the commander that it was improper to accept such vehicles, stressing that the people of the state would resist any intimidation by soldiers.



The governor condemned the resort to a private company and noted that the Brigade did not approach the state government for such assistance.

Oshiomole equally alleged that commandant of the Nigeria Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, A.O. Odid, a Brigadier General had been openly canvassing votes for President Jonathan from soldiers, telling them to vote for him because the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is their “paymaster”.




     

     

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    In the same vein, the governor accused the PDP of planning to use security agencies to intimidate and harass leaders of the APC in Edo State, adding that the house of the state chairman of the party, Matthew Ehigie, house was on Thursday searched by policemen.

    He also disclosed that soldiers had been deployed to his village, Iyamho, to intimidate him, but declared: “I am at my best when I am intimidated.”

    The governor applauded the conduct of politicians in the state during the campaigns and urged them to conduct themselves peacefully during today’s balloting..

    He also called on the people of the state to come out en-masse to cast their votes.
     

     

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