Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has condemned the recent attack on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Okpebholo, in a statement on Tuesday night, described the incident as an internal party crisis that was taken too far.
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The governor, while sympathising with the affected members of the party, noted that it was unfortunate that certain elements allegedly exploited the peaceful atmosphere of the state to perpetrate violence.
“As peace-loving people, the importation of thugs and miscreants from outside the state under the guise of party politics remains totally condemned and will not be tolerated going forward,” he said.
Okpebholo stated that, as the chief security officer of Edo, he would not stand by and allow the state to be turned into a theatre of conflict in the name of political rivalry.
“Even though the precise motive behind this attack may not yet be fully known, I strongly believe that the ultimate objective is to discredit Edo State and undermine its reputation as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria,” he added.
The governor, however, declared that no amount of political blackmail would sway the residents from supporting a government they hold dear.
According to him, politics should centre on performance, engagement with the people, and the continuous effort to earn their trust and confidence.
“This is what we are known for, and we will remain committed to that path,” he added.
He argued that when politicians or individuals allegedly orchestrate violence to gain political advantage, it reflects a lack of meaningful value to offer the electorate.
Okpebholo maintained that as a leading political force in the state, his party welcomes healthy opposition and would not be intimidated by what he described as blackmail or self-inflicted attacks.
The governor advised the party to refrain from directing accusations outside its fold, suggesting that the matter appeared to stem from internal disagreements.
He also appealed to residents of Edo State to remain calm and steadfast in maintaining peace, urging them not to allow the incident to create a negative impression about the state.
“Edo remains a peaceful state, and no one can take that away from us,” he affirmed.
The governor, while issuing a note of warning to opposition elements he alleged may be seeking to cause unrest, said all political parties must resolve their internal disputes before organising events in the state.
He warned that any attempt to foment a crisis under the guise of political activities would not be tolerated.
Okpebholo further called on the police and other security agencies to remain vigilant and closely monitor political gatherings that could potentially escalate into violence.
Obi, ADC Condemn Attack
Gunmen suspected to be political thugs attacked some chieftains of the ADC at the residence of the erstwhile APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident was said to have occurred shortly after the chieftains returned from the ADC secretariat, where they formally welcomed a former governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata, into the party.
Condemning the attack, a former presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi, who is a chieftain of the ADC, said, “We will make a formal complaint, and I assure you that this cannot continue,” Obi told the party members in Benin City.
“We have a country, and we are part of the country. We cannot have terrorism terrorising the country and have officials in government terrorising citizens. It is unacceptable.”
The leadership of the ADC said it would neither bow nor retreat despite the attack.
