Adams Oshiomhole, the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that Governor Godwin Obaseki lacks the authority to order his arrest.
Speaking to reporters in Edo state on Friday, the former governor of Edo described Obaseki’s accusation as absurd and without merit.
Remember that on Wednesday, Obaseki accused Oshiomhole of orchestrating the demonstrations and violent protests in the state in response to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) contentious currency swap policy. Oshiomhole, however, refuted the accusation.
In response to the claim, Oshiomhole told reporters that only the Nigeria Police Force has the authority to look into anyone they deem a person of interest, and that if they are found to be unreliable, they may be called in for interrogation.
The APC Senatorial candidate in Edo North said he would be surprised if the police now collect orders from the governor.
He said: “When I read initially on social media… that Obaseki has ordered the police to arrest me, I had a very good laugh.
“First, because Obaseki doesn’t know that he doesn’t have the power to order the arrest of a citizen. And that’s the reason why some people have reservations about what people like Obaseki talk about state police.
“The police have not – and I would be surprised if they have now – generated to the level of taking orders from a politician who is faced with a crisis of confidence and the people are revolting against him.”
Oshiomhole revealed any governor must be able to win the hearts of his people and talk them out of bitterness, and above all, give them hope that the government will address their challenges.
He said: “A governor or a leader must be able to win the hearts of his people and talk them out of bitterness, and above all, give them hope that whatever are the challenges that they face, the government is in a position to do something about it. This is what the government should do.”
Oshiomhole noted that protests were part of democratic ideals, and denounced the riots that broke out across the state.
He added, “I believe Nigerians have a right to protest against anything that they are not happy about. But I also want Nigerians to understand that there’s a huge difference between protest and rioting.
“The problem of rioting is like shooting a gun into a market: you don’t know who it will hit. But when you peacefully decide to protest, that is what distinguishes a free people from slaves.”