By Achile Danjuma
A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has revealed how he and the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, narrowly escaped an attack on a political gathering in Benin City, Edo State, following intelligence that the venue was about to be stormed by unknown assailants.
Akpata, who was the party’s governorship candidate in the state during the last election cycle, disclosed the close call during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday. His account comes just a day after chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state were attacked.
“I was in harm’s way, there’s no doubt. I was alongside other people. We were in harm’s way yesterday in Benin,” Akpata stated.
“Thankfully, due to the efforts of some of the security personnel who were there, I think what could have been a very dastardly event was averted yesterday.”
According to Akpata, members of the Labour Party had gathered at the ADC secretariat on Ogbelaka Street for a formal defection ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. As the event progressed, he and Obi received separate, credible intelligence that the gathering was at risk.
“We got information as the event proceeded from sources that are usually reliable that the venue would very soon come under attack from some unknown persons,” he explained.
“I received that information separately. Mr. Obi received that information… and we were advised to speed up the event… to avert what those persons thought would be a crisis.”
Akpata described the venue as a “tight” and “narrow building” located on a densely populated street, noting that even a stampede in such a confined space could have proven deadly. Faced with the imminent threat, the organizers hurriedly concluded the program and decided to relocate the party leaders.
“We told them that, listen, because of this development, come to Chief Oyegun’s house. We would address the press there,” he said, referring to the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun, a veteran politician.
“This was a decision taken on the fly because… things had changed. We didn’t have time to do any press (briefing). Anything could have happened.”
Akpata disclosed that the decision to leave proved critical. Shortly after they evacuated the secretariat, armed men reportedly stormed the area and attacked the venue.
“We started getting calls that as soon as we left the secretariat on Ogbelaka Street, some guys actually showed up and attacked the venue, attacked people,” he recounted.
He added that the danger was deeply personal, revealing that his cousin, who was still at the scene, narrowly escaped being struck by a bullet.
Following the incident and the reports of violence, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has directed the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack.