The Edo State Government has raised alarms over plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to instigate civil unrest and disrupt peace in the state through orchestrated protests and rallies. This move is perceived as a strategy to further their political agenda amidst the upcoming September 21 governorship election.
In a statement signed Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Honourable Commisioner for Communication and Orientation, it is revealed that the APC is resorting to these tactics due to the perceived shortcomings of their gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo. Okpebholo has been criticized for his lack of basic understanding and inability to effectively communicate his vision to the electorate and key stakeholders. The party, unable to gain traction through conventional campaign methods, is reportedly seeking to incite chaos to divert attention from these weaknesses.
The statement read in part;
“Our attention has been drawn to plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to orchestrate civil unrest and cause mayhem in the State under the guise of protests and rallies in order to advance their obnoxious political agenda.
“The APC is resorting to this devious plan because they have realized the folly of presenting an unlettered and incompetent candidate for the office of a governor.
“Their candidate, Monday Okpebholo, has continued to embarrass the party and his handlers in private and public fora with his poor grasp of basic concepts and intellectual immaturity, consistently displaying an inability to articulate and coherently sell his vision to the electorate and other key stakeholders.
“Reeling from the pains of selling a bad and unmarketable candidate and having failed in their desperate resort to lies and propaganda to hoodwink Edo people ahead of the September 21 governorship election, the only path the APC in Edo State now sees to promote their campaigns is to cause chaos and crisis in the State.
“Our findings reveal that the APC plans to incite civil unrest in the State and cause chaos under the guise of riots and protests in order to disrupt the peace and stability of the State, while diverting attention from their candidate’s weaknesses and buying time to avoid debates and meaningful engagement with the people.”
The state government has further called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the 4 Brigade Commander in Benin, to be vigilant and take action against any attempts to destabilize the state. The statement emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and ensuring that those responsible for any potential unrest are held accountable.
“The Edo State Government is aware of their evil plans, and will not sit idly and watch them unleash mayhem on the people and cause chaos in the State.
“While we call the attention of all security agencies in the State, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Brigade Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin, among others, to take notice of this planned heinous plan by the APC to orchestrate civil unrest and cause mayhem in the State, we assure members of the public to be rest assured that the government will spare no effort within the ambits of the law to forestall this planned attack on the State and its people and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
“Instead of trying to stir strife, we urge them to bring their candidate out for debates and engagements with the electorate and other stakeholders as is obtainable in all other civilized climes. The APC must know that election is not war. Rather, issues, vision, and manifestos are debated in a civil and respectable manner, and not hiding behind strife and chaos to force their way to power.
“We urge the APC to refrain from their divisive tactics and resort to violence. They should instead bring their candidate out to speak to the people, even if it is in pidgin or his local Esan dialect, and as well debate with other candidates. Edo people deserve to hear directly from him to enable them to make informed decisions ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State.”