- Safiu Kehinde
The Edo State Government has accused the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of masterminding kidnapping incidents across the state.
This is coming under the heels of the release of kidnapped Edo lady, Aisha Wahab.
In the wake of the lady’s release after being held hostage for two weeks, the Edo PDP in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, said Aisha’s ordeal “further exposed the complete dereliction of duty by the Monday Okpebholo-led administration.”
Osa-Ogbeigbe accused the government of turning a blind eye and not even offering the courtesy of empathy or official intervention.
In the same, human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, had accused the Edo State Government and security agencies of failing to provide support during the rescue efforts for Aisha.
Gwamnishu revealed that Aisha was coerced to trek between Auchi and Okpella, a significant distance, alongside her abductors.
He disclosed that his team was unable to apprehend the kidnappers due to the alleged lack of cooperation from state authorities and the police.
Reacting to the criticism in a statement issued on Saturday by its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the Edo state government slammed the PDP labelling the party’s publicity secretary a beer parlour patron who does know about rescuing kidnapped victims.
He accused the PDP of leaving Edo state in rot.
“When a political party is manifestly bereft of ideas on how to handle security issues, it’s a no brainer that even a doorknob would cotton on to their ineptitude, following their actions.
“Security issues are neither beer parlour matters nor matters for beer parlour patrons like Dan Osa-Ogbegie to handle.
“What does he know about rescuing kidnapping and hostage taking victims? My thinking is that they are beyond his depth.
“People like him, and his party, the PDP, who believe in propaganda governance, and governance by social media platforms left a history of rot and decay in Edo State.”
“They papered over the cracks and the upshot is what we are all suffering today; with them out of office.” He said.
While recounting how the opposition party’s state chairman Dr. Aziegbemi was kidnapped in what he called a taste of PDP’s own medicine, Afegbua accused the PDP of masterminding the kidnapping across the state as he recalled how they had allegedly threatened to burn down Edo.
“After all, before the last gubernatorial election in the state, the PDP chieftains and leaders had publicly declared that they would burn down Nigeria, nay Edo state, if they lost the election.
“It would then be safe to state in unmistakable terms that leaders of the opposition PDP must be the masterminds of the kidnapping activities in Edo state.
“We have now informed the relevant security agencies to narrow their binoculars on them to unravel the conspiracy to make Edo state ungovernable.
“They have become persons of interest, and very soon, the long arm of the law, will catch up with them.
“We are proud as a people, for the successes our Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has recorded in his ongoing effort to making Edo State safe and secure for all.
“As the saying goes, “he may not be your cup of tea, but it may be that you do not have good taste.” The current Edo State Governor is doing very well in the critical sectors of the Edo economy.” He said.
The Commissioner further maintained that security tactics on rescuing kidnapped victims does not require what he labelled as noise and fulmination.
He held that making the tactics a public knowledge would have been counterproductive.
As against Gwaminshu’s claim, Afegbua said Aisha was released by the effort of the state government as he warned against using the case to score cheap political scores.
“Security tactics don’t allow for noise and fulmination, especially when kidnapping is involved.
“What the PDP wanted the Governor to do was to behave in a most ludicrous manner, and apply cheap propaganda in the process, and then sing on television and social media platforms about Aisha Wahab.
“That would have been most counterproductive.
“The security agents and our crack team of detectives applied all that was necessary and propitious to geo-locate her, then followed through on all the leads, and ensured that she was released unscathed.
“Those who are trying to take advantage of such a condemnable act to score cheap political points, may very well be the architects of kidnapping activities in Edo state.
“The opposition PDP is hereby reminded that security issues cannot be used for popularity contest.
“We are not duty bound to expose the discrete process that was employed to secure Aisha’s release; and we are proud and happy, that we secured her release.” He added.