It is truly disheartening to see the Edo State PDP Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemin, attempt to mislead the public with baseless accusations against the Edo State Government under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo. In a recent video, Dr. Aziegbemin shamelessly described Edo State as the capital of kidnapping and crime, while falsely claiming that former Governor Godwin Obaseki left behind a functional and effective security architecture. Such a statement is not only misleading but also an insult to the intelligence of the people of Edo State who lived through the failures of the past administration.
Dr. Aziegbemin, as an elder statesman, should be at the forefront of upholding truth and integrity. However, it is disappointing to see him stoop so low to defend a government that oversaw one of the worst security crises in Edo’s history. The reality is clear: under Obaseki’s administration, the security system in Edo State collapsed entirely. Criminals operated freely, and the common Edo citizen lived in constant fear. The level of insecurity reached an all-time high, with kidnappings, armed robberies, and cult-related violence plaguing the state.
Let us not forget that it was during Obaseki’s tenure that all the banks in Uromi were robbed in a single day, an event that shocked the entire nation. Cultism became so rampant that deadly clashes occurred yearly, even at the brink of his exit from office. These are the harsh realities that Edo people endured under a failed security structure. The so-called "security network" put in place was nothing more than a tool for political intimidation, with cultists being recruited into the system under the guise of protecting the state. Is this the security legacy Dr. Aziegbemin is defending?
It is also worth reminding Dr. Aziegbemin that he himself was kidnapped while returning from the Government House under Obaseki’s administration. That alone should be enough proof that the past government failed woefully in securing the lives and properties of Edo citizens. Instead of acknowledging these failures, he has chosen to peddle false narratives against a government that is barely four months old but already making significant strides in restoring law and order.
Senator Monday Okpebholo has taken bold steps to address the security challenges inherited from Obaseki’s administration. Unlike his predecessor, he is working tirelessly to ensure Edo State is a safe place to live and do business. His proactive approach to governance has brought renewed hope to the people. It is therefore ridiculous for Dr. Aziegbemin to criticize a government that is fixing the mess he and his party left behind.
Dr. Aziegbemin’s hypocrisy does not end there. His poor record of leadership is well known, particularly in Ward 5, Emu, Esan South East Local Government, his own community, which has suffered years of neglect under his watch. His tenure as a member of the House of Representatives brought no tangible development, and his time as PDP State Chairman has been marred by controversy, including his suspension in 2021 for diverting Christmas rice and palliatives meant for the people. Instead of taking responsibility, he aligned himself with Obaseki and created a faction within the PDP—another example of his self-serving politics.
The people of Edo State have not forgotten how Obaseki hoarded palliatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, only for them to be discovered rotting in warehouses while citizens struggled to survive. These are the kinds of injustices Dr. Aziegbemin should be addressing, rather than attempting to discredit a government that is working to clean up the mess left behind.
Dr. Tony Aziegbemin should sit down, reflect on his failures, and learn from the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo. The people of Edo State deserve truth, accountability, and good governance—not cheap political propaganda.
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