TELL Magazine

The Chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions, Idahosa Wells Okunbo, well known as Captain Hosa, has described as
“baseless and unfair”, the allegation leveled against him by Edo State government to the effect that he was sponsoring thugs in the state to undermine the will of the people in the forthcoming September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state.

Reacting to an allegation by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, accusing the governor, Godwin Obaseki of recruiting alleged thugs and cultists into government under the guise of senior special assistants, and special assistants, for the purpose of unleashing mayhem on opponents, special adviser to the governor on media and communication strategy, Crusoe Osagie, alleged that Okunbo and former national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole allegedly met in the former’s house “where they perfected plans to recruit thugs to disrupt the forthcoming September 19 governorship election…having discovered that they cannot win in a fair contest”.

But frowning seriously at the allegation, Okunbo said ‘it betrays desperation on the part of the entire Edo State Government under Governor Godwin Obaseki” adding “The statement also suggests cluelessness as to how to peacefully and maturely engage with emerging political issues ahead of the September 19 governorship election”.

In a statement, Monday night titled “Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki’s desperate and confused actions”‘, Denise I. Onu, Senior Executive Assistant to Okunbo said her principal’s attention had been drawn to the “defamatory statement made on behalf of the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Crusoe Osagie”.

She noted that “Osagie made very grave and damaging claims against Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo and a former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, linking them with the sponsorship of political thugs to be deployed in the September 19 governorship election.

“He claimed that both Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole met in Captain Okunbo’s GRA residence in Benin on July 19, 2020, with the thugs on which occasion they paid the thugs upfront”.

According to Onu, “While the claims are outright ridiculous, false and mischievous, the intention behind them was/is to embarrass these respected sons and leaders of Edo State and lower their reputation in the estimation of right-thinking and reasonable members of the society”.

She said It was unfortunate that at a time when resources were dwindling and when there was need for public enlightenment on health-related issues, “Crusoe Osagie has misdirected his attention and state resources toward baseless personal attacks on perceived enemies of his principal.

“Without any iota of doubt, these malicious and careless statements by Crusoe Osagie were endorsed by his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, on whose behalf he spoke and still speaks as his spokesperson”.

Onu said “The point is hereby made that Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, in particular, is a man of peace whose patience is legendary. Therefore, they could not be talking about him in the context they did without answering to their indiscretion in making the outlandish and defamatory claims.

“Judging by the recent history and timelines of violence in the State on the watch of Governor Godwin Obaseki to cow opponents, the consensus is that through Crusoe Osagie, the State Government and its officials had actually talked about their failure to ensure the peace, safety, and security of the people of Edo State”.