By
Abdul-Kadir Abdullah
The Edo State Government has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its criticism of the recent release of kidnapped victim, Aisha Wahab, describing the opposition’s comments as “puerile” and evidence of its lack of understanding of security management.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the government accused the PDP of attempting to politicize a sensitive security matter and of displaying “beer parlour” reasoning in its public statements.
Afegbua stated, "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,”
“Security issues are not matters for beer parlour patrons like Dan Osa-Ogbegie to handle. What does he know about rescuing kidnapping and hostage-taking victims?”
The commissioner dismissed the PDP’s criticisms of Governor Senator, Monday Okpebholo, noting that the APC-led administration had demonstrated competence in addressing insecurity across the state. He added that the release of Aisha Wahab was achieved through careful intelligence gathering and tactical operations by security agencies.
Afegbua said, "Security tactics don’t allow for noise and fulmination, especially when kidnapping is involved,”
“The security agents and our crack team of detectives applied all that was necessary and propitious to geo-locate her and ensure that she was released unscathed.”
In a fiery turn, Afegbua accused PDP leaders of being potential instigators of insecurity in the state, recalling that some opposition figures allegedly threatened to make Edo State ungovernable after losing the last governorship election.
The statement alleged, “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 informed the relevant security agencies to narrow their binoculars on them to unravel the conspiracy to make Edo State ungovernable.”
The commissioner praised Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, describing him as “the defender of the universe” and lauding his efforts in improving security and other critical sectors of the state’s economy.
Afegbua quipped, “As the saying goes, he may not be your cup of tea, but it may be that you do not have good taste,”
The government reiterated that it would not disclose the details of the rescue operation that led to Wahab’s release, emphasizing that security matters were not for public spectacle or political grandstanding.
Afegbua concluded, “The opposition PDP is hereby reminded that security issues cannot be used for popularity contests. We are proud and happy that we secured her release,”
