The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has warned those destroying his campaign billboards to desist from such act as it was inimical to the growth of democracy.
Speaking on Lagos Street, on Monday, after inspecting one of the dismantled billboards, he said the destruction would not help anyone as it is the Edo people who can decide who becomes the next governor of the state.
Shaibu, who was visibly angry when he visited the scene of his billboard on Lagos Street, around Ring Road, said his campaign billboards were dismantled on two different occasions at the same spot.
The deputy governor said he had secured all the stands for his campaign billboards since June 2023 and was annoyed that they (the billboards) were being destroyed.
He added, “I am a man who plans in whatever I want to do. I paid and secured all of the spots across the state, signed an MoU with the owners and paid fully.
“This kind of ugly development is capable of scaring private investors from the state. This is why we have to be very careful as a government and individual in our actions.
“We are going to replace the billboard right now and we hope it will not be tampered with again.
“We have been patient enough, they must not provoke us. Our patience must not be taken for granted. Edo is a peaceful state. We must allow peace to prevail before, during and after the election.”