BENIN CITY - A former member of Edo State House of Assembly in the botched Third Republic, Hon. (Barr.) Dele Igbinedion, has promised to offer free legal assistance to all those who suffered from violence during the 2007 elections, regardless of party affiliation in Edo State.
Addressing newsmen in Benin City yesterday, the former law-maker noted that during the 2007 general elections, many lives and properties were lost/destroyed, just as many were injured, and became refugees in their own villages.
Hon. Igbinedion expressed dismay that perpetrators of these evil acts were left untouched and the victims, left to suffer for the sins they did not commit, “despite the existence of laws and statutes in our books, which makes electoral violence criminal.”
He explained that his decision to render free legal service to victims of the 2007 general elections in Edo State, was aimed at sending a clear message to politicians that the era of unleashing violence with impunity was coming to an end, and to create the consciousness that after an election, a politician could be held accountable for his action(s)
Hon. Igbinedion listed his areas of interest in the quest to offer free legal service to the above persons to include: to identify those who suffered any form of political victimization, including those who lost their lives during the 2007 general elections, to identify the perpetrators of the violence, and to seek redress and compensation for the victims.
He further stated that a Non - Governmental Organisation (NGO) would be formed with its own Board of Trustees, to ensure that his aim and objective of seeking redress and compensation for victims of the 2007 general elections was achieved.
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