Okpebholo blames saboteurs for insecurity in Edo

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State at the weekend said that saboteurs were responsible for the state of insecurity in the country, adding that the sole aim was to frustrate the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Edo State governor, however, had a message for the saboteurs; the various state governors had resolved to support the president by coming hard on criminals in their states, with particular attention paid to those involved in kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Governor Okpebholo reiterated that in a state like Edo State, if some of the criminals were convicted and executed, others would learn and leave the state. 

This was just as he had assured that farmers would return to their farms in the state, as their farmlands would be cleared of kidnappers.

Okpebholo asserted Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East local government area, at the flag-off of the Edo Central All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the July 11 local government election in the state.

“All the jobs, all the constructions, everything that we are doing today, it is Asiwaju that is giving us the money to do them.

“When they saw that he was working, they said they wanted to disturb him with insecurity; they brought insecurity. Now, Asiwaju boys, that is, we, the governors, are ready for them; we will finish them.

“They have been exposed,, and because they have been exposed, I believe they will run away, but if they choose not to run away, we are there for them because in our land, there will be security; all our farmers will go back to their farms.

“It shall come to pass that by the time we publicly execute some of them, they will know that they will leave here and go home,” Okpebholo warned. 

The governor said his administration would continue to work with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to protect lives and property while ensuring peace, unity, and stability across Edo State.

He said President Tinubu had encouraged transparency in the management of local government resources, adding that the implementation of local government autonomy had allowed councils to directly access their funds and pursue grassroots development.

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“The president loves Edo State. When I met him, he told me not to touch local government funds, and I obeyed. The funds go directly to the local governments, and the chairmen are using them to bring development and growth across the 18 local government areas,” Okpebholo said.

The governor urged APC members and supporters to mobilise across their communities and work for the success of the party’s candidates in the forthcoming local government elections, describing the exercise as a foundation for the party’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who welcomed defectors into the party, including a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was the leader of the party in the district, Bishop Anthony Okosun, and others, called on members to unite behind the governor and the party’s candidates.

The Deputy State Chairman of the party, Sylvester Aigboboh, reeled out the governor’s achievements, which he said had made the campaign easier for APC candidates.