Hendrix Oliomogbe
A group, Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has vehemently condemned the mishandling of the recent protest, that rocked the university town of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area and environs, by the state government.
In a statement Tuesday in Benin City by the national president, Dr. Samson Isibor, after it first meeting in 2026, he called for the immediate release of the protesters, mostly students, who were clamped into the Nigeria Correctional Service cells for demonstrating against the state of insecurity.
He said: "We condemn the mode of arrest of students in their various hostels by the security agencies.
"We also condemned the hijacking of the peaceful protest by hoodlums who turned the peaceful protest to violent, destruction of properties of innocent citizens particularly the Enogie of Ekpoma Palace. It is condemnable and unwarranted."
The group however blamed the style of governance by Governor Monday Okpebholo for the mayhem for not being proactive to the longtime cry of Edo people against the taking over of their farmlands, bushes and highways by terrorists, bandits and killer herdsmen.
Dr. Isibor insisted that the inaction of the governor is the reason the kidnappers have the temerity to enter Edo towns and villages to kidnap people from house to house, fuming:
"It is horrendous and this is a state that has a governor."
He continued: "It is laughable that the governor is junketing in a helicopter across the troubled areas. Doing what? He is just wasting our meager resources to pay for the hiring of a helicopter. Is he going to arrest the marauders by himself? This is a question to be answered.
"Even the members of the so-called Edo Security Network that he (Governor Okpebholo) set up were never paid any salaries or equipped for the risky job they did."
The CRPP chairman recalled that time without numbers, the association advised the state government to set up the Amotekun Security Network as obtained in the South West Zone, adding that the governor never heeded the advice.
Dr. Isibor queried: "How can the government employ people for security work without being paid and never put the names of the personnel in government payroll?"
The statement advised the government to put the security personnel on special payroll by placing them on
salary ranging from N100,000 to N200,000 per month, noting that they should also be insured as it will motivate them to be able to confront the deadly terrorists.
He said that Edo people are not bothered by the many pickup vehicles and motorcycles purchased for the security agencies but just want to have their two eyes closed whenever they are sleeping.
According to Dr. Isibor, what's supposed to be the priority of the government is to see to the security and welfare of the people.
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