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Records have so far revealed that the focus on EBS may very much be a reverberation of the Electoral Tribunal judgment that ended up in a fatal echo for the PDP-led government of Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor. Following the March 20^th judgment of the Electoral Tribunal in the state capital sequel to a preceding dramatic and marathon elaboration in excess of three hours, the Edo State Broadcasting Service had decided to air a commentary on the development as is customary in news presentation.

Edo State: Death of a Commissioner – The rumor mill is buzzing on!!
Written by Frisky Larr

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It’s been barely one week since the body of the commissioner of Information of Edo State was discovered in a hotel room in a suburb of the state capital. While the public eagerly awaits information in the semblance of progress in investigations, not even a preliminary autopsy report seems to be in the offing by way initial information. Consequentially, the center stage in information dissemination has been temporarily hijacked by rumor mongering and wild suspicions. Following impromptu charges by the father of the late Commissioner underscoring the fact that his son was threatened by a suspended General Manager in a parastatal establishment of the state government, the searchlight has remained focused on the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS). Further investigations conducted by NigerianNews have successfully narrowed down the searchlight to two prominent professional operatives of the state media establishment at the center of the bizarre and ominous spate of uncontrolled rumors. Records have so far revealed that the focus on EBS may very much be a reverberation of the Electoral Tribunal judgment that ended up in a fatal echo for the PDP-led government of Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor. Following the March 20th judgment of the Electoral Tribunal in the state capital sequel to a preceding dramatic and marathon elaboration in excess of three hours, the Edo State Broadcasting Service had decided to air a commentary on the development as is customary in news presentation. Even though an Assistant General Manager for Commercials, Julius Osifo (a learned jurisprudent), was called upon to bell the cat. Utilizing his years of experience in the news department (before being ultimately passed over to Commercials), Julius Osifo had presented a commentary titled “Calling for peace in Edo State”. In it, he was reported amongst others, to have urged for peace and a deviation from a mentality of vengeance in the aftermath of the volatile political situation created by the watershed judgment. In describing the judgment however, the Asst. General Manager was said to have characterized the tribunal’s action as a “painstakingly” delivered judgment – in obvious reference to the preceding marathon elaboration that culminated in the crushing verdict stripping the incumbent Governor of legitimacy. What happened thereafter however, took the shape of a rude shocker in the wild state of Absurdistan. Julius Osifo is said to have ended up attracting the wrath of the state government for using the word “painstaking”, which was interpreted as a subtle indication of sympathy for the opposition. The Asst. General Manager was suspended. With him, also the Assistant General Manager for News and Current Affairs Mr. Otasowie, whose department was responsible for the release of such commentaries. Questions are however lingering and begging to be answered. Most notably is the search for precise reasons for associating Julius Osifo with the dastardly act, at least in the world of rumors. Was he the person who threatened to teach the Commissioner a lesson as the late Commissioner’s father alleged? Information gathered by NigerianNews has also uncovered that the second Asst. General Manager for News and Current Affairs Mr. Otasowie who was equally suspended, is indeed a recuperating patient of stroke, who is only too happy to sit out his working days as an armchair quarterbacker. But did he also ever threaten to teach the Commissioner a lesson? In the world of rumors however, anything goes that seems to fit into the category: “Wicked and Wild”. On this same note, it is also contended that the remains of the late Commissioner may not have borne any such sign of external injuries as may indicate third-party aggression. Maliciously, mischievously or otherwise, one version clearly insists that reports of injuries on the head of the late Commissioner to suggest murder may have been fabricated for convenience as death by natural causes is yet to be ruled out in the absence of a coroner’s inquest report. In all of this though, NigerianNews has so far, been unable to get the government’s version of the entire story. Efforts however remain underway, to link up with officials of the State government for an official reaction.   Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com