Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr Chris Azebamwan, has described the feeble attempts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to make cheap political capital out of herdsmen attacks in the state as antics of a party “clutching at straws in vain attempt to find political relevance.”

In a statement in Benin City, on Wednesday, Azebamwan, said that it is despicable that the PDP in Edo State is politicising herdsmen attacks and other security issues confronting the country by isolating the state and attempting to hoodwink the people to think ill of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

According to Azebamwan, “The PDP is being mischievous and economical with the truth if it accuses Governor Godwin Obaseki of dereliction of duty with regards to security. But as is to be expected. The PDP continues to clutch at straws in a vain attempt to find political relevance and save itself from inescapable oblivion.”

He said, “Governor Godwin Obaseki remains the chief security officer of the state and he has proven to take the responsibility of protecting lives and property in the state very seriously. Even while the state governor goes about acting his role as the chief security officer in the state, we cannot deny the fact that Edo State is a microcosm of the Nigerian state.”

Noting that there was need to put the issues in proper contexts, Azebamwan said, “The scourge of armed robbery, kidnapping and rampaging herdsmen which are peculiar security challenges confronting several parts of the country cannot be dealt with by Edo State in isolation of the 35 other states in Nigeria. Edo State boundaries do not amount to solid barriers to prevent movement from one to the other.”

He continued, “The Governor Obaseki-led APC administration has continued to provide logistics support to the security agencies in the state, the most recent being the provision of Hilux vans, motorcycles and sundry security equipment within the week.

“The recent spike in security lapses has since been brought under control with the adoption and implementation of new security initiatives by Governor Godwin Obaseki.”