By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, is planning to use a section of students of the University of Benin to foment trouble in the state.

He further warned that the plot, if executed, would result in the loss of many innocent lives.

Speaking in a broadcast to the people of the state on Saturday, the governor asserted that the leadership of the PDP in the state held a meeting at the house of one of the candidates of the party where plans were made to recruit students and thugs who would set petrol tankers ablaze in strategic parts of the state capital.

The governor further alleged that the PDP held a meeting in which they bribed a section of the student’s union government, giving them huge sums of money to mobilize more people so that upon school resumption on January 17, they would unleash mayhem in Benin.

“Part of the plan is that these students working and providing cover for party thugs will hijack petrol tankers, block roads with them and they anticipate, rightly, that the security agencies would resist them. They plan to set these tankers ablaze and in the process create confusion and in their estimation, this could easily lead to loss of lives.

“And of course they believe, rightly, that once there is loss of lives the situation would escalate and they believe they could profit from such violence. They are determined to hide under the cover of this issue between the University of Benin Management and Edo State Government to create a crisis and cause diversion.”

The governor charged parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards at the University of Benin and other tertiary institutions in the state not to allow themselves to be used by politicians.

“I want to remind the university students and indeed the entire student community in Edo State that Edo State Government has no dispute with the student community. Indeed, when we procured the comrade buses, Edo State Government gave one comrade bus to the students of the University of Benin for their use. We offered to pay the driver and we ordered the management of ECTS to maintain this vehicle at the expense of Edo State taxpayers for the comfort of the University of Benin student,” the governor stated.

“I want to appeal to you students to resist being used and for those who have been compromised not to put their selfish interest over and above the collective welfare and indeed safety of thousands of innocent students of the University of Benin. I am satisfied and happy that many of the students are clear that these issues have nothing to do with the welfare of the student community as properties in the GRA are not in within the premises of the University of Benin,” he added

Governor Oshiomole stated that he has tasked the security agencies to ensure that all is done to maintain law and order in the state, particularly during the coming elections.

“Leadership requires that you find courage to do what to have to do in the public interest. I cannot subordinate the interest of the people of Edo State to private individual interest no matter how highly placed. If anyone believes our action is a violation of his or her rights, the only civilized thing to do is to go to court and seek the enforcement of those rights,” he stated.

Appreciating the contributions of the university to the growth and development of the state, the governor described the institution as his administration’s partner in progress and stated that his administration, being one that accountable and responsible, remains open to dialogue.