As spate of kidnappings and criminal activities persist, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties, CRPP, has urged Governor, Monday Okpebholo of Edo State to prioritise the security of lives and property of residents rather than the promise of 2.5 million votes to President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

UGAMATV reports that chairman of the group, Samson Isibor, made the call on Friday at the Coalition’s 2025 Award ceremony held in Benin City, Edo State.

Isibor, who opined that the worsening security and growing unemployment have not abated since the Governor’s assumption of office in 2024, noted that he should go beyond rhetoric in tackling the social vices with the billions of nairas now receives monthly from the Federation Allocation Account.

While advising the governor against the antics of sycophants, he noted that he should not be carried away by their unnecessary praises.

“We know that some sycophants are calling you different nicknames, such as Akpako Rescue, Akpako Messiah.

“After one year in office, nothing has changed in our lives, we are still as poor as never before, high cost of food, there is no job, thousands of our graduate children are still roaming about the streets looking for jobs that are nowhere to be found.

“The insecurity situation in Edo
state is quite alarming and overwhelming. Edo people cannot sleep with their two eyes closed again. Bandits, herdsmen and terrorists have taken over our bushes, highways and farms. They have choked us to the extent of chasing us into our homes to pick us up like fowls.

“That’s why we are shouting that Governor Okpebholo should come out to fulfil his electioneering promises by delivering us from the hands of these criminals because they have impoverished us through unbearable levy of ransom ranging from N20 million, N100 million and above.

“Edo State is one of the poorest states in the federation, with our lamentation of no work, no food, some bandits will still capture us like prisoners of war, demanding unbearable ransom from the impoverished masses of the State.

“Governor Okpebholo, you should please rise up to the occasion and free us from this unfortunate situation that we found ourselves in,” he said.