Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Deacon Darlington Okpebholo-Ray, the Lead Spokesman of Team Asue Media Organisation (TAMO) and Deputy Director of Diaspora Media for the PDP Asue/Ogie Campaign Organization, has laid bare irrefutable evidence linking Tony Adun, widely known as Tony Kabaka, to the notorious July 18th shootings at Benin Airport.
Kabaka, who has long been associated with political thuggery, violent criminal activities, and cultism, was pinpointed as the mastermind behind the violent incident that shocked Edo State.
Responding to claims made by APC Chieftain Hon. Billy Osawaru, who appeared on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm program, Okpebholo-Ray strongly refuted the assertion that Kabaka is not a member of the APC. Osawaru had attempted to distance Kabaka from the party, but Okpebholo-Ray swiftly corrected the narrative.
“I didn’t want to be mentioning names, but Hon. Osawaru started it,” Okpebholo-Ray stated emphatically. “If an Honorable member can go on a national platform like Channels TV, viewed by millions across the world, and claim that Tony Kabaka, who is well-known for violent criminal activities in Edo State, is not associated with the APC, then we need to set the record straight.”
He continued, “Tony Kabaka has been a notorious figure for years, openly boasting about his involvement in criminal acts and posting videos flaunting his weapons. He has been a central figure in Edo’s political violence since the early 2000s. The APC cannot wash its hands off him—he is their Youth Leader in Edo State, and his actions have been celebrated within their ranks.”
Okpebholo-Ray’s statements highlight the deep-rooted issues of political violence in Edo State, exposing the complicity of certain political figures in fostering a culture of fear and intimidation. His bold correction of Osawaru’s comments has intensified the ongoing debate about the role of thuggery in Edo’s political landscape as the state gears up for the crucial September 21 governorship election.