Insecurity: Edo LP Condemns Kidnap of PDP's Chairman, Aziegbemi...Says Obaseki Uses "Vigilante Boys Only for Thuggery and Political Intimidation"

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By Reporter

The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party, (LP) says it has received with rude shock the news of the kidnap of Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on his way to his residence along Country Home Road, Benin City, Edo State.

In a press statement issued on behalf of the State Chairman of the Labour party by the State Publicity Secretary and Image maker of the party, Comrade Sam. Uroupa and made available to newsmen attributed that the ugly development is as a result of lack of good security network in the state.

Flashy and entertaining Edo State Security Command and Control Centre in Benin City

“In spite of the acclaimed security network and alleged empowerment of vigilante boys only used for thuggery and intimidation of voters during election, lives and properties in the state are not safe.

“That the state Chairman of the ruling party in the state is kidnapped in such manner is an attestation that Edo State is seriously lacking in the area of security and government that ought to protect the lives and properties of her citizenry is seems not doing enough to curtail criminal activities in the state.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, left with Edo PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi

“This kidnap is one kidnap too many in the State which signpost’s an overt reminder and wakeup call on Governor Obaseki’s led administration in the state that all is not well, in terms of securing the State which is the primary responsibility of government.

“Labour Party therefore reassure the good people of Edo State that if the party is voted into power, the issue of security in the state will be vehemently tackled and kidnapping and other social vices will be things of the past.

“The Labour party publicity Secretary uses this medium to assure Edo people that LP government when voted into power will not play politics with their security.

“The failure of the PDP led government in the state has been exposed once again and thus appeal to Edo people not to entrust their lives into such a party anymore.

“The safety and wellbeing of the complete family (father, mother and child) is our concern in Labour party, we therefore demand of the abductors, the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman Dr. Tony Aziegbemi to be united back to his family unhurt as we equally call on the security agencies in the state to swing into action and leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensuring his release,” Edo Labour Party reassured.

It will be recalled that the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state had similarly pleaded for the release of the captured PDP state chairman, Mr. Tony Aziegbemi, and also took a swipe at the antithetical security architecture designed by Obaseki’s administration.

The opposition party in Edo State attributed the ugly development to the “lack of strong and well oiled security architecture in the state.”

The statement which was signed by the APC acting State Chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe explained that: “The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received the news of the kidnap of the State chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi with rude shock and has profoundly condemned same, attributing this ugly development to the lack of strong and well oiled security architecture in the state.”

It added that; “…this kidnap is one kidnap too many in the state which signpost’s an overt reminder and wake up call on Governor Obaseki led administration in the state that all is not well, in terms of securing the State which is the primary responsibility of government.”

APC went ahead to remind Obaseki that, “…the chairman of the party of a sitting governor can be kidnapped, is a testament of the very porous, ill equipped, ill motivated security machinery in the state inspite of the humongous security vote being collected by Governor Obaseki on a monthly basis.

“The APC, Edo State chapter uses this medium to demand of the abductors, the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman, while we call on the security agencies in the state to leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensuring his release unhurt.”

In December 2023, Obaseki, inaugurated the State Security Command and Control Centre in Benin City, as further measure to ensure security of lives and property in the State, amidst fanfare.

The governor told his bewildered audience at the event that his government has succeeded in using ‘data’ to fight crime in his state.

“Every month, we collate every incidences that has occurred across the state and our goal is how to use these data collected to combat crime, investigate crime and understand what is going on in various communities across the state.

“Since we started collecting data on crime incidences in the state, that is between 2017 and 2020, we saw astronomic rise in crime and criminal activities across the board.

“But since we started using data to analyse what is going on in the state, since 2020 till post COVID era, we have seen incidences of crime reducing significantly.”