Collapsed man: Edo dep gov threatens Airhiavbere

EDO State deputy governor, Pius Odubu, has threatened to sue the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 governorship election in the state, General Charles Airhiavbere, and his campaign organisation over comments made about a man who slumped at the venue of the sitting of the Edo State governorship election tribunal last Thursday.
It will be recalled that the Charles Airhiavbere Campaign Organisation through a press release signed by its spokesman, Hon. Osaze Jesuorobo, alleged that the collapsed man, Israel Odaro, was a card-carrying member of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) and a kinsman of Odubu.
But in his reaction at the weekend, the Edo State deputy governor stated that he did not know the man and that he had no contact with him and did not hire him to come to the tribunal.
“This press release is false in its entirety. it is ladden with malice and it is an attempt to assasinate my character. ACN in Edo State and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole do not need spin doctors or native doctors to defend its petition before the tribunal,” Oduba stated.
The deputy governor then advised General Airhiavbere and his campaign organisation to issue an unreserved apology to him and retract the story in its entirety or else he would institute legal action against them.
Meanwhile Sunday Tribune visited the Central Hospital, Benin, where the collapsed man was receiving treatment. In a chat, the man stated that he had been suffering from epilepsy since 1984. He also debunked the claim that he hailed from Edo State, saying that he was an Itsekiri from Delta State. He added that he only saw the deputy governopr on television and that he did not have any closeness with him.
However, the General Airhiavbere Campaign Organisation has said that it stood by what it said on the personality of the man. Spokesman of the group, Hon Osaze Jesuorobo, told Sunday Tribune that apart from retracting their statement that the man had died, they would still stand by what they said and were ready to challenge the deputy governor on the issue.