BY EDO OSAHO

The recent press release by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet another attempt to politicize the security challenges in Edo State, a move that underscores their lingering frustration over their loss in the governorship election. Rather than presenting constructive solutions, the PDP and its spokesperson, Chris Nehikhare, have chosen to stage an unnecessary political combat instead of collaborating with the current administration to address the state’s security concerns.

While Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s concerns about security should not be dismissed, it is essential to recognize that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration has been making concerted efforts to tackle insecurity in Edo State. Security issues are not peculiar to Edo but are a nationwide concern, and the state government has taken definitive steps to address them.

A key example is the recent signing of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Bill, 2024, into law. This legislation enforces stricter penalties against cultists and their sponsors, demonstrating the government’s commitment to eradicating criminal elements.

 Additionally, in December 2024, Governor Okpebholo signed the Kidnapping Prohibition Amendment Law, 2025, which strengthens existing laws against kidnapping, ensuring severe sanctions against perpetrators. To show that these actions are not merely symbolic, the governor went a step further by demolishing properties belonging to convicted kidnappers—an unprecedented move that underscores his commitment to making Edo safer.

The newly amended laws prescribe severe consequences, including the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, confiscation and demolition of their properties, and stringent punishments for their accomplices. This firm stance on security is a direct contrast to the lackluster approach taken by the previous administration under former Governor Godwin Obaseki. Yet, the PDP shamelessly attempts to rewrite history by portraying Obaseki as having built an effective security framework—an assertion that does not align with the facts.

If Chris Nehikhare insists on glorifying Obaseki’s tenure, he should answer a few critical questions. Where was he when, in January 2023, bandits stormed a train station in Edo and abducted 32 people, including two railway workers? What about the gruesome attack on Apostle Johnson Suleman’s convoy on October 21, 2022, along the Benin-Auchi Road, which resulted in the deaths of six of his aides? Has he forgotten the incident in January 2024 when kidnappers brazenly took over a police checkpoint in Edo? Does he remember the kidnapping of Edo State’s Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, who was held captive for weeks?

If security was indeed robust under Obaseki, why did he himself flee from an office near the Civil Service Club due to security concerns and relocate to the Government House towards the end of his tenure? Why were daring kidnappers able to attack policemen on patrol during the last administration, with Nehikhare playing a prominent role in governance? These incidents expose the PDP’s hypocrisy and their attempt to manipulate the narrative for political gain.

It is clear that Nehikhare, having lost his position in government, is struggling to remain relevant within the PDP. With nothing productive to do, he spends his days idling at the party secretariat, which now resembles a crumbling fortress awaiting its inevitable collapse. The activities of Governor Okpebholo’s administration have become a nightmare for him and his party, which finds itself politically suffocated.

Rather than engaging in baseless criticism and political distractions, the PDP should embrace collaboration and support the current administration’s efforts to address the inherited security challenges. The safety and well-being of Edo people should take precedence over political point-scoring. It is time to move beyond the blame game and work towards a more secure and prosperous Edo State.

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Edo Osaho Writes from Benin.