11 hours ago
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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
A chieftain of the All progressives Congress (APC) from Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, Charles Idahosa, has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo, for the decisive steps he has taken so far to fight criminality in the state.
He gave the commendation, while speaking to journalists at his residence in Benin City, where he x-rayed the performance of Okpebholo and the false alarm raised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on how unsafe Edo State has been since the present administration assumed office.
Idahosa, while commending the governor for his developmental strides in the last few months in office, especially the action taken in destroying houses linked to kidnapping elements in the state, frowned at the PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Anthony Azeigbemi and his deputy, Harrison Omagbon, for feeding the unsuspecting public with wrong and fake information that Edo State is the headquarters of kidnappers.
He reminded the duo that they were kidnapped during Obaseki’s administration yet still scored the then governor high.
“Senator Monday Okpebholo, as a governor, has done so well for Edo people and has surprised everybody. He is working and we are seeing it.
“I have made governors in this state. When they are coming, they beg to win the election but after winning, they become something else and Obaseki is one of them. Obaseki was also here to beg but he turned around and messed up and today he is a fugitive.
“If you see the pace that the governor has taken, you will know he is a man that has a vision and knows what he wants to do and he is doing it well and I know he will deliver at the end of the day,” he assured.
Idahosa, former political adviser to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, urged those speaking for the opposition party to remain silent if they don’t have anything to say apart from telling lies to the people.
“If you are in the opposition and don’t have anything to say, just remain quiet, rather than opening your mouth to speak.
“Anthony Azeigbemi and his deputy, Harrison Omogbon, both said Edo is headquarters of kidnappers but they forgot so soon that they were both kidnapped during the Obaseki-led administration, where they played prominent roles. They are talking now just because they want to talk, they failed to scrutinize what they wanted to say.
“Azeigbemi, during Obaseki’s administration left the governor’s house after a meeting with Governor Obaseki and was kidnapped on his way home and he spent 10 days in captivity before he regained his freedom.
“His deputy, Omogbon, who sat by him was also kidnapped at his house in broad daylight, and you are saying Okpebholo’s administration can’t tackle security. Obaseki’s administration did a lot of damage to Edo people and Gov Okpebholo is battling to put the situation under control,” he said.
On the expected ruling of the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Idahosa said as far as he was concerned, there was no case because law is not a rocket science. He said he was predicting victory for the APC as the PDP could not present its case or prove it well.
“Oshiomhole won in court because we were able to prove our case beyond every reasonable doubt and he became governor of Edo State, but the PDP so far, has not been able to do that and the case is dead on arrival.
“During Obaseki’s administration, I resigned within two months of the administration, telling party leaders that we had made a mistake in electing Obaseki, who will deal with all of us and he actually did.
“The governor is doing a lot in the state. We are going to see the first flyover in Benin City, Edo State, as he is working silently without making noise. A man renovated a secretariat at Sapele Road, built by the late Samuel Ogbemudia and a whole lot of noise was made from it.
“Gov Okpebholo is opening up the state, constructing roads across the state just like Ambrose Ali did when he was the governor of old Bendel State. He has revived Edoline. He is working the talk and rescuing Edo.
“Demolishing buildings belonging to kidnappers or linked to kidnapping activities is a very good step as it will serve as a very big lesson to other criminals in the state.
“The last administration led by Obaseki was busy bulldozing opponents’ houses and hotels rather than that of criminals. Now, it has become mandatory to scrutinise any tenant before letting him or her into your house or else you may lose your property.
“During Obaseki’s administration, he served me papers that I am owing so much for my house because he was sure that he would win and was preparing to deal with me but as God would have it, his party lost.
“I am happy about the governor, he has started very well and he is a man that knows what he is doing as a leader. Obaseki led the 67 Enogie astray and they have been trying to reach him but his line is no longer going through. My Enogie is among them.”
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