Ekpoma Protests: Group flays Okpebholo over alleged insensitivity
The Coalition of Registered Political Parties ( CRPP) has condemned Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo over alleged insensitivity while handling the violent protest that erupted in Ekpoma as a result of incessant kidnapping in the area.
According to a statement issued and signed by the National Chairman of CRPP,Dr.Samson Isibor after their first meeting this year ,”we deliberated on
the economic, political and social developments in Edo State.The Coalition condemned the mishandling of the protest that took place at Ekpoma and
environs by the government.
” CRPP calls for the immediate release of the students clamped into the Nigeria Correctional
Service. 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.
Continuing ,Isibor said ,” CRPP frowns at the style of governance by Governor Monday Okpebholo for not being proactive to the longtime cry of Edo citizens against the taking over of our bushes, farms, highways by the
terrorists, bandits and killer herdsmen. They now have the temerity to enter the towns and villages to
kidnap our people from house to house. It is horrendous and this is a state that has a Governor.
” It is laughable that the Governor is junketing in a helicopter across the troubled areas, doing what?,
wasting our scarce resources to pay for hiring of helicopter. Is he going to arrest the marauders by
himself? This is a question to be answered.
“It could be recalled times without number that we advised the government to set up the Amotekun
Security Network, like that of the South West Zone, the governor never heeded to our advice. Even the so called Edo Security Network he set up were never paid any salaries or equipped .How can government employ people for security work without being paid and never put their names in government payroll?
” We advise the government to put them on special payroll by placing them on
salary ranging from N100,000 to N200,000 per month. They should also be insured, this will motivate
them to be able to confront the deadly terrorists. Edo people are not bothered of how many pickups vehicles and motorcycles purchased for the
security agencies. All we want is to have our two eyes closed whenever we are sleep. That is supposed to be priority of government to see to the security and welfare of the people. We are not
even talking of the poverty that is ravaging our people”, Isibor posited.
