Oshiomhole says he believes recent car crash resulting in two deaths was an assassination attempt

FORMER All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman Adams Oshiomhole has labelled the recent car accident his motorcade suffered in Edo State which resulted in the death of two members of his security detail as an assassination attempt.

Yesterday, the accident involving Mr Oshiomhole's campaign convoy occurred while he was on his way to Usen in Ovia South West Local Government Area. The accident was said to have happened at about 1pm around the by-pass in Oluku Ovia North East local government area.

As a result of the incident, the APC governorship candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu called off his rally at Usen. During the accident, a trailer ran into the travelling campaign convoy hitting the back-up vehicle that the police were riding in.

John Mayaki, the chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, said it was suspending the scheduled campaign to honour the dead. On behalf of Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the APC, Mr Mayaki condoled with the families of the victims, saying they were not alone in their grief and pledged that the campaign would do everything within its powers to ameliorate their grief.

Chris Azebamwan, the publicity secretary of the Edo State chapter of the APC said Mr Oshiomhole was okay and that they were waiting for more details from security agencies. Henry Benamaisa, the sector commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, said he was waiting for the police to give details before he could officially release same to the public.

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has condoled with Mr Oshiomhole and Pastor Ize-Iyamu, over the road accident. He commiserated with the families of the victims of the crash and prayed that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss of their loved ones.

Governor Obaseki said: “I received the news of the accident with shock and commiserate with the former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the candidate of the APC in the forthcoming governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu over the very unfortunate incident involving their security aides and top chieftains of the party in the campaign team. While we pray for strength for the families of the deceased persons, we also pray for the quick recovery of those who were injured and are receiving treatment.”

However, Mr Oshiomhole’s media aide Victor Oshioke, described the accident as an assassination attempt. He said Mr Oshiomhole’s convoy was driving at a regulated speed limit when a trailer driving in the same direction rammed into the convoy pushing the police back-up into the bush and hitting the vehicle Mr Oshiomhole was riding in.

Mr Oshioke added: “Some minutes after 12 pm on Tuesday September 1, 2020, there was a motor accident involving the convoy of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, along the Benin-Lagos By-pass before Oluku junction. The convoy was headed to Usen community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was expected to appear at a campaign rally alongside Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC governorship candidate in the September 19, 2020 election in the state, when a trailer driving in the same direction veered off its course, hit the back up Toyota Hilux vehicle carrying seven policemen, forcing it off the road, into the bush and rammed into the Sports Utility vehicle carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.

“We are sad to report that two police personnel in the Toyota Hilux truck lost their lives while two others are in critical condition receiving treatment at a hospital in the state. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other persons in the convoy , apart from those indicated above did not sustain any injuries.

"It is pertinent to state, without fear of contradiction, that the convoy of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was maintaining legal speed limits when this incident occurred. This explains why the trailer, travelling in the same direction over ran the Hilux truck off the road and still hit the SUV carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.

"Without prejudice to police investigations, eyewitnesses account of the incident suggest and we believe rightly too, that this was an assassination attempt, targeting Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. It is painful that innocent policemen performing their legal duties lost their lives in this very unfortunate incident. While we pray for the quick recovery of the injured policemen, we extend our condolences to the families of the departed."