As political tension mounts in Edo State ahead of the July 14 governorship election, Governor Adams Oshiomhole,? yesterday,? challenged the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) candidate,?? Major General Charles Airhiavbere(rtd) to explain to Edo people why he was detained for three months by the military authority on alleged fraud. The Governor also dared the PDP candidate to go to court if he felt that he was lied against .
The governor who spoke at a rally in Okada , Ovia North East and Ovia South West to receive former State Women? Leader of the PDP, Barrister Lucy Omagbon and the Vice Chairman of PDP, Edo South, Mr Sunny Uyigwe alongside other defectors, also challenged Airhivbere to contest the accusation? in the court of law.
Oshiomhole said, “ If I lie, he should take me to the law court and I want him to tell Edo people how he came about deep pocket when he cannot even point at any development or impact he had on his people while he served the Nigerian Army.”
He urged the people to be mindful of the programmes and policies of each party and candidate.
But in a swift reaction, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr. Matthew Uroghide?? challenged Oshiomhole to substantiate his claim with evidence just as he accused the governor of resorting to “gutter Politics.”
He said “What Oshiomhole is doing is tantamount to gutter politics and with every sense of responsibility and sincerity I want to say that Airhiavbere was never questioned or indicted on account of salary or military pension.
“ He retired from the army meritoriously with excellent service to his fatherland; he is an embodiment of responsibility knowing his pedigree as a director at National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies; we challenge him to prove it, because his? service in the military is open to investigation”.