Barely few weeks to the national congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC), a chairmanship aspirant in the race and General Overseer, (GO) and founder of Faith Teaching Bible Church Worldwide, Silas Buowe has narrowly escaped assassination.
Narrating the incident to HardReporters crime correspondent, a senior police officer in the state said the incident took place on Wednesday at about 8:20 pm in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South local government area of the state.
“Investigation has shown that at about 8:00pm the Honourable went to a barbing saloon along Emiye road, opposite Forest hotel, Oleh, to barb his hair, when he was through and about driving home in his car, a Jetta car barricaded his way and before he could sensed what was going on, unknown gunmen believed to be assassins shot at him at close range. His car was riddled with bullets which penetrated his waist severely.
“The former lawmaker was rushed to Owhe clinic in Oleh where some medical treatments were carried on him. Sensing that the situation was getting out of hand, he was immediately transferred to a hospital (names withheld) in Warri for more intensive treatment and test. The situation is very critical and we pray he survives it. He is a pastor and we believe God will put his enemies to shame” our security source said.
According to the police officer who pleaded for anonymity, the failed assassination attempt was politically motivated and already the police has begun pointing its search light on some individual politicians in the area. “I can tell you authoritatively that the police has been able to established that the assassination attempt on the politician and pastor has a political undertones and we shall get to the root of the matter.” he vowed.
In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, a well known top politician in the area who pleaded for his name not to be mentioned disclosed that the whole incident is surrounded with politics, adding that “With what has been happening in Isoko South politically, fingers are already being pointed at the likes of Prophet Jones Erue, former Delta state chairman of APC, Mr. Alex Ebah, Buowe’s kinsman and current Vice Chairman of Isoko South council and Chief Askia Ogieh, Executive Director, Administration and Finance, Delta State Oil Producing Area Development, (DESOPADEC) for the assassination attempt on the life of Hon Silas Buowe.
“Now, let me explain to you, it is no longer a secret that Prophet Jones Erue, former Delta state chairman of APC, had time without number said to have boasted to deal ruthlessly with Silas Buowe for daring to contest for his former seat. Both in the secret and open, the Prophet was reported to have vehemently boasted that Silas Buowe will not live to taste that chairmanship position.
“Again, it is no longer a secret that Hon. Silas Buowe exposed the criminal act of Mr. Alex Ebah, current Vice Chairman of Isoko South council who allegedly falsified his academic credentials, especially the senior secondary certificate and as we talk, the case is currently going on at the Delta state high court sitting in Oleh.
“And we all know that Chief Askia Ogieh, DESOPADEC Executive Director, Administration and Finance, is a deadly politician and the sole nominator and sponsor of the candidacy of Mr. Ebah. Should the court decide otherwise in Ebah’s falsification case, Askia will be the biggest loser in the game, so with the pictures painted so far you will agree with me that all fingers are already being pointed at the above mentioned politicians. Which ever way it goes, the aim is that once they can eliminate Silas Buowe, then the coast is now clear for all of them.” the politician alleged.
HardReporters can also report that political associates, church members, friends and sympathisers among others are also pointing accusing fingers, saying the attempted assassination was highly politically motivated and some known persons cannot exonerate themselves from the dastardly and unholy act.
From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Buowe, a former political ally of Askia Ogieh, hails from Umeh community and represented Isoko South constituency II in the state House of Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). In 2016, Buowe formally defeated from PDP and officially registered his membership with the APC.
Buowa, who became the Financial Director of the defunct Mainstream Delta APC, indicated his interest in a month ago to join the APC chairmanship race in the forthcoming state congress of the party which is slated for next month.
As at the time of filing in this report, all our efforts to reach out to the above mentioned politicians for comments proved abortive.
