Akpata, UNIBEN SUG Saga: Edo Govt Warns against ‘Irresponsible’ behaviour

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The Edo State Government has condemned in the strongest terms, the ugly incidence at the University of Benin on Friday, involving the Students Union Government, SUG, of the institution, and candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, who was invited by the senior staff of the university for an interactive session at their Senior Staff Club on Friday, April 12, 2024.

A lecturer is said to be receiving treatment in hospital following the attack by the students, while the SUG also claimed that one of its members was shot by Akpata’s security personnel.

A statement by the state commissioner for information and orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said “claims and counterclaims have been made by Mr. Akpata and the Student Union Government (SUG) of the University in statements issued by both parties on April 13, and active investigation is ongoing on the issue”.

Akpata, had however in a video released in the early hours of Saturday, fingered an unidentified “top official of Edo State government” as having masterminded the attack on him. He pointed out that the Senior Staff Club had some weeks ago, hosted the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Asue Ighodalo.

But in its statement Saturday night, the government sternly warned that it would “not tolerate violence or this sort of irresponsible behaviour which was associated with the visit of Mr. Akpata to the institution”.

According to Nehikhare, “Government has the primary responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property in the state and will spare no effort to ensure that anyone who breaches the peace, no matter how highly placed, will face the full weight of the law”.

The government therefore called on all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses without let as relevant agencies progress with their investigation into the said matter.