The chairman of Esan Northeast Local government council with headquarters in Uromi, Edo State, Kelly Inedegbeor is battling to wriggle out of allegation of arming political thugs, one of whom was caught at a political rally, and who allegedly named the chairman as his sponsor. Agogo Daniel, one of the many suspected armed thugs arrested by men of the Nigerian Police near the venue of the recent rally by the ruling People’s Democratic Party at Uromi, had reportedly confessed in his statement that Inedegbeor gave him the guns found on him. Daniel, a resident of Evboiyi near Uromi, had told the Police in the now viral video that the chairman whose name he gave as Kelly, gave him and other thugs who he identified, two cut-to-size guns and a supply of ammunition through one of his aides named Noel, to protect him, while the rally lasted. But refuting the allegation, a statement by his chief press secretary, Okonofua Harry Osemobor, said, “The apprehended culprit NEVER mentioned in the video that he has a link with the council boss, and the council boss has no relationship whatsoever with the apprehended criminal. We advise members of the public to kindly watch the said video for a review”. Osemobor said, “Listening to the video being circulated by these disgruntled elements trying to rope the chairman into the mess just to make a meaning out of nothing, is rather unfortunate”. He accused the All-Progressives Congress, APC, of being behind the allegation, stating that “the apprehended criminal may have been sponsored to mix up with the crowd to cause mayhem, an Intelligence we got on time, hence we fortified our rally with security agencies to ensure a hitch-free rally”. The full text of Osemobor’s statement read: “APC at it again: Spreading Falsehood: “We have been inundated with calls regarding the video being spread by suspected APC Akpakomiza Media Urchins/Hon Odi Okojie media team, in particular one Enaholo Abel Enaholo. We would have ordinary ignored but as a responsible and responsive government, it is important we take them to the cleaners on this issue “Listening to the video being circulated by these disgruntled elements trying to rope the chairman into the mess just to make a meaning out of nothing, is rather unfortunate. However, their plans to rope the Executive Chairman, it’s important we draw the following conclusions: “There is no record of any possession of illegal firearms in the hands of the council boss either in the past nor in the present. He has never empowered, nor support nor show any solidarity to any illegal armed group within or outside the state. If there’s anything he’s known for, it is his peaceful nature, striving hard to ensure the local government is safe from criminal elements “The apprehended culprit NEVER mentioned in the video that he has a link with the council boss and the council boss has no relationship whatsoever with the apprehended criminal. We advised members of the public to kindly watch the said video for a review. “The culprit confessed that the weapons found in his hands are properties of the secret cult he belongs to. He never roped the council boss to being part of his cult group or any other cult groups “The chairman welcomes the arrest of the criminal by men of the vigilante group who has been handed over to the police for further investigations “Invariably, the apprehended criminal may have been sponsored to mix up with the crowd to cause mayhem, an Intelligence we got on time, hence we fortified our rally with security agencies to ensure a hitch-free rally. Despite their failed attempt to disrupt the process, they are yet to recover from the shock of their life they received as a result of the massive turnout for Asue by the good people of Uromi and Uzea, a dangerous signal that the good people of Uromi-Uzea have rejected their candidate who can’t differentiate a zoo from a museum. “We advise members of the public to disregard their purported arranged criminal and go about their normal businesses as the security agencies are on top of the matter”.