Politics
Edo Govt, PDP Trade Blame Over Increased Banditry
By Emmanuel Aziken
The Edo State Government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 trading blame over the increased spate of insecurity in the state.
The PDP had thrown the first jab at the government on Monday with its claim that Governor Monday Okpebholo was feasting over his administration’s attainment of its first 100 days in office at a time herdsmen had worsened the insecurity in Edo State. The party cited the murder of three persons in Okepekpe to validate its claim.
The governor’s media adviser in a sharp retort fumed at the PDP which he claimed caused the problems over the last eight years.
Picking up the gauntlet on Tuesday, the PDP again through its spokesman, Chris Nehikhare accused the administration of chasing shadows, a claim that was robustly rebuffed by the state commissioner for information, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu chided the opposition party for supposedly playing politics with security.
Flaying the Edo administration for not being up to its responsibilities as concerning the spate of insecurity, the PDP said:
We read with amazement, the first statement from Senator Monday Okpebholo on the massive killings going on across Edo State, and unfortunately, our concern about the cluelessness of his government on how to protect the lives and property of Edo people was confirmed.
Senator Okpebholo who responded to the brutal killing of innocent Edo people, including but not limited to, Batemue Philip Ebo, Christopher Bello, and Victor Ogedengbe, for the first time appeared to be more interested in blaming a government that left office nearly four months ago, than taking responsibility and explaining how he plans to prevent future occurrence. This is profoundly regrettably!!
Instead of issuing a strongly-worded message of condolence that shows a copious amount of empathy, Okpebholo who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, started his statement with the display of his morbid obsession with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Thereafter, he began to list vehicles procured with the funds His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki left in the treasury which we understand were mostly distributed to party leaders, government officials, state and non-state actors. Purchase of Hilux vans is not a security policy!
Edo people need the following answers from Senator Okpebholo:
What happened to the elaborate surveillance system with cameras and screens, the command and control centre, among others which Obaseki put in place to the envy of the entire country and beyond?
Why did Okpebholo disarm all the sectors of the Edo State Security Network after dislodging its leadership?
Where are all the world-class standard, secure communication devices handed to all sector commanders across the State?
The state Security Council is available for Senator Okpebholo to take advice and formulate security protocols and strategies. Advice, plans and suggestions from the thugs that have literally taken over Edo State Government is an abnormality and certainly not effective.
Senator Okpebholo needs to know that his first responsibility as governor, no matter how bereft of integrity his mandate is, is to protect the lives and property of Edo people and he needs to be told that he does not have the luxury of being able to pass the buck to the previous administration.
The Edo State Government responding to the PDP blame on insecurity, through the commissioner for information, Hon on. Paul Ohonbamu in a statement in Benin City berated the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for their failure to tackle insecurity in the state for eight years.
”The Governor is very serious about the security of lives and property in the state and will not tolerate any act to orchestrate violence, criminality, kidnapping, cultism and murder. “The PDP should stay away from fomenting problems in the state because it is becoming clear from all indications that they are responsible for instigating all this insecurity in the state and any one caught will be dealt with according to the law.
“The governor bought brand new motor bikes to go to the nook and crannies of the communities to show his seriousness to tackle insecurity and he signed the Edo State Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Bill into law 2025, thereby approving 21-year jail term for cultist and their sponsors
“The PDP should not forget that there is a law of cultism and even similar activities that have been passed into law. When any report is linked to any one of them, they will be picked up and dealt with and there will be no sacred cows when it comes to infraction or violation of law,” he added.
The Commissioner stated that the unrest and insecurity in the state is a residue of unfulfilled promises of the Godwin Obaseki administration which the present government of Senator Monday Okpebholo is poised to solve.
According to the Commissioner, the PDP should hide their head in shame because they could not account for how they spent their security votes in eight years which led to the insecurity and the rise in cult related crisis.
“But today, barely one hundred days in office, Governor Monday Okpebholo has purchased brand new vehicles and motorcycles to confront the problem of insecurity which will soon be a thing of the past.
“The Security agencies charged with the responsibility of fighting crime in the state have been mobilized with brand new vehicles and new Motor cycles by Governor Okpebholo which was not so in the past.
“The Governor has matched words with action by providing working equipment for security agencies to operate in the three Senatorial Districts to protect the lives and property of Edo People,” he noted
“The reaction of the PDP is obviously a way to show remorse for the wrong they have done to Edo People and they are only passing the buck of their failure on security because if they took security seriously the way Governor Okpebholo started with it, by now Edo State would have been free from this menace,” the Commissioner added.
In his words, ” the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has taken the necessary steps to secure the state and the opposition PDP is only using the incident to whip up political sentiments.
“It is however sad that the PDP led administration could not avert any security crisis during their time. But Edo People know that the problem started because the security votes were not used judiciously for the purpose it was meant for.”
The Commissioner further noted that It would be recalled that the herders farmers crisis came back long time ago, adding that, ” We are against the open grazing system which is a problem and this government is prepared to solve it the way we have done eighty percent with cult issues in the state.”
While commiserating with the families that lost their loved ones, on behalf of the state government, Hon Paul Ohonbamu stated that the security agencies and the Coordinator of Edo State Security Corps, CP Friday Ibadin (Rtd) are on top of the investigations and he appealed for every one in the area to remain calm.
GWG.ng reports that the refrain of the opposition and the government in power trading blame over the spate of insecurity that is making news in the Nigerian media is one that has put the citizenry in suspense.
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