It was a show of shame yesterday when Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, got set to exchange blows in Nigeria’s seat of power but were restrained by peacemakers.

“But for the intervention of the governors of Delta and Gombe states; Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ibrahim Dankwambo, and an aide to the President, the argument between the duo would have resorted to fisticuffs,” says one report of the incident.

The shameful drama was acted before the full glare of journalists at the Council Chambers in Aso Rock Villa where the Council of State meeting took place. It was not clear what Adoke told Oshiomhole that enraged him but eyewitnesses said they hotly disagreed over the handling of the murder of Oshiomhole’s beloved Principal Private Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde, at age 44. Oshiomhole has been crying for justice since Oyerinde, with whom he collaborated on many labour wars during his days as a trade unionist, was cut down by four gunmen who invaded his house located in Ugbor area, Benin City around 1am on May 3 last year.

Trouble started yesterday when Oshiomhole pointedly accused Adoke of trivialising Oyerinde’s death through his failure to prosecute those who allegedly murdered him. Adoke however vehemently denied the allegation, leading to a shouting match that nearly ended in the exchange of blows.

Addressing journalists after the Council of State meeting, Oshiomhole lambasted Adoke for messing up the prosecution of those accused of killing Oyerinde. He lamented that rather than advise the Deputy Inspector General of Police who referred the case for prosecution to the AGF that the case ought to have been tried by Edo State, the Attorney General chose to play the ostrich.

Said the governor: “He (Adoke) was saying my Attorney General should have known what to do, that he (Adoke) has nothing to do with the matter and I simply asked him who referred the matter to him? Was it my Attorney General? The matter was referred to him by the deputy Inspector General of police and I asked him who should know better?”

Defending himself when he took his turn with the journalists, Adoke said defiantly: “Edo State governor can say what he wants to say but I will not join issues with him; he is the governor and I respect his office.”

•Photo: Mohammed Adoke.