The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its claim that Edo State is under siege and Governor Monday Okpebholo has lost grip of the situation.
In a statement by Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Committee, PDP hinged its affirmation on the stance of Senator Adams Oshiomhole on the issue of insecurity in the state while talking on the floor of the red chambers of the National Assembly in Abuja.
The PDP stated that Senator Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, “has joined the growing league of esteemed Edo sons and daughters who have taken to various platforms to raise the alarm over the worsening spate of insecurity in Edo State under the Monday Okpebholo government and calling for the Federal Government’s intervention in tackling the menace, which has claimed the lives of at least 35 innocent Edo citizens and led to the destruction of properties worth billions of naira in the last two weeks.
“In interrogating the unprecedented level of insecurity, brutal killings, and violent attacks on the people of Edo State on the floor of the Senate, Oshiomhole openly declared that ‘Edo State was under siege,’ acknowledging that Okpebholo is overwhelmed by the security crisis in the State and has failed in his primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens.”
According to the PDP, “Oshiomhole’s public outcry is a clear and undeniable confirmation of the stance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that his underling, Okpebholo, has lost grip of governance and is overwhelmed by the spate of worsening insecurity across various communities in the State.
“For us, it bears repeating that the people of Edo State are under siege. From Edo South to Edo Central to Edo North, killings and violent attacks have become rampant.
“The State has now gained a notorious reputation as the capital of kidnapping and violent crimes, as kidnappers and other criminals see it as a safe haven, the weakest link in the country’s security framework.
“Meanwhile, the supposed Chief Security Officer of the State, Okpebholo, stands dazed, overwhelmed and utterly incapable of managing the escalating insecurity.
“We dare to ask Okpebholo and his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, what they have to say now that their own political godfather has admitted to the catastrophic breakdown of security under their administration?”
Will they now retract their baseless attacks and invectives against the PDP and former Governor Godwin Obaseki, whom they falsely accused, despite his proven track record of building one of the most effective security frameworks in Edo State? Or will they continue to bury their heads in the sand while insecurity spirals out of control?
The PDP stressed that under Obaseki’s leadership, “Edo State had one of the most efficient and effective security architectures in the country which repositioned it as one of the safest States in Nigeria to live and do business. This is an undeniable fact and the records speak for themselves.
“The drastic deterioration of security under Okpebholo’s watch only affirms him as a politician who came into office unprepared, with no clear vision, plan, or clue for the security, welfare, and development of the State and its people.”
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