The Edo State Government and the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party bickered on Tuesday, over the government’s call on the security agencies to investigate the opposition leaders over rising insecurity in the state.
The government, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, said security sources revealed that certain PDP leaders were not only financing these acts of terror but were also using them as political tools to cast the current administration in a bad light.
The statement stated that the calculated effort to sabotage the government through fear and propaganda must not go unchecked.
“The resilience of Edo State is currently being tested by evil merchants, individuals sponsoring a surge in violent crimes, particularly kidnappings and other forms of insecurity.
“Disturbingly, intelligence reports indicate that these crimes are not just the handiwork of random criminal elements but are being sponsored by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party to create chaos, undermine the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo and destabilise governance in the state.
“In recent months, Edo residents have witnessed an alarming increase in abductions, targeted attacks, and orchestrated misinformation campaigns, a sad carryover from the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“Security sources reveal that certain PDP leaders are not only financing these acts of terror but are also using them as political tools to cast the current administration in a bad light.
“This calculated effort to sabotage the government through fear and propaganda must not go unchecked.”
Itua accused the former PDP-led government of flooding the state with dangerous weapons before the 2024 governorship election.
“The actions of the PDP are not new. During the 2024 Edo governorship election, the former PDP-led government recklessly armed non-state actors, flooding the state with dangerous weapons.
“Many of these arms were never retrieved, contributing to the proliferation of small arms and fueling the present security crisis.
“The failure to mop up these weapons has emboldened criminal elements who now use them for nefarious activities, including kidnappings and assassinations,” the statement added.
The government asked citizens to remain vigilant and demanded the security forces probe into the role of PDP leaders in the rising wave of kidnappings and armed violence.
“A thorough probe into the role of PDP leaders in the rising wave of kidnappings and armed violence is not just necessary, it is long overdue.
“The security and stability of Edo State must come before partisan interests,” it said.
Replying through a statement, the state PDP caretaker committee chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, on Wednesday, said the party received reports from credible sources that Okpebholo and his agents planned to cook up stories to implicate PDP members and stalwarts.
He said the essence was to illegally target their houses and other properties for demolition as being done to kidnappers and their cohorts.
“Having become overwhelmed by the security crisis in Edo State and having lost control of the violent crime and criminality running amok in the state, the Monday Okpebholo-led government has now resorted to blame games, desperately attempting to use the crisis as a means of targeting and attacking the opposition, threatening them with arrest and physical attacks.
“We have received reports from credible sources that Okpebholo and his agents also plan to cook up stories to implicate PDP members and stalwarts so that they can illegally target their houses and other properties for demolition.
“It is unfortunate, shameful, appalling, and disappointing that a government that is supposed to protect the lives and property of the people has now thrown its arms up in surrender.
“From its panicky and politically sinister plans, the government is indirectly admitting that they have no plan or clue on how to address the devastating insecurity crisis in the state, which has claimed the lives of at least 40 innocent Edo citizens across various communities in the past two weeks,” he said.
Aziegbemi said that rather than seeking help, Okpebholo and his cronies had resorted to blaming the opposition.
“What we, the PDP have done is to raise the alarm and play our role of keeping the government on its toes, ensuring it rises to its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the people of Edo State.
“We understand that this turnaround to heap blame on the opposition is merely a pretext to launch violent attacks on opposition members and their properties.
“This is not only ridiculous and reprehensible but also a clear sign of failed leadership.
“We are not afraid and will continue to speak up in the interest of our people and our democracy,” he added.
The party called on the police, Department of State Service, military and the people of Edo State to take note of the threats by the APC-led Edo State government.
