Chairman of the NBA Benin Branch, Nosa Edo-Osagie, has denied addressing newsmen in the company of Edo State PDP officials regarding an incident that occurred the previous Thursday at the Bar house.
Edo-Osagie who expressed regret over the incident, stated that the NBA did not intend to align with any political party but was dragged into an unnecessary political skirmish, even as he reaffirmed the NBA’s impartiality and stressed that the association remains open to all political parties equally.
The full text of Nosa Edo -Osagie, Chairman, the NBA Benin Branch statement follows:
“My secretary called me to inform me that some people were coming to see us over the incident that happened on Thursday at the bar house. I told him to inform them that 2pm would be appropriate on Tuesday and not 10.00am as requested for.
“They arrived about that time and were ushered into my office. Present with me was my Publicity Secretary and Assistant Secretary. Also in my office was Dennis Osaretin. What I noticed immediately was the huge presence of the media.
“I told them this was strange and unnecessary and that if they want any information from us it could be gotten outside the office right after the visitation. They agreed and they all left. They told us why they came to see us which according to them had to do with the incident that happened the previous Thursday at our premises.
“We both agreed it was condemnable and that people should not take laws into their hands. No political parties were mentioned no names were mentioned and nobody was referred to during the brief conversation which was informal and friendly.
“We thanked them for the short and brief visit and I rose to see them off and possibly take a group photo only to see a barrage of camera men stationed at the entrance. The visitors insisted I speak first and I replied that they know what brought them here and should speak.
“I finally spoke and thanked them for coming. The whole incident of visitation has become a political game between PDP and perhaps APC. The NBA did not receive them as political parties but as friends in the society and that was stressed during the visitation.
“Members of the NBA are in all the political parties and no one is more important than the other. What has played out from from an innocent generosity has become a regrettable action. We are not under any obligation to see anyone or group of persons for whatever purpose and it is most unfortunate that NBA is dragged into skirmishes of political parties”.