Standing Firm Against Enemies of Progress: How Governor Okpebholo Is Reclaiming Edo’s Peace - By Hon. Pius Alile

 

It is increasingly evident that Edo State is experiencing a decisive rebirth of security, peace, and public confidence under the purposeful leadership of the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo. From the very moment he assumed office, the governor made it unmistakably clear that the protection of lives and property would not be a slogan, but the reality of his administration.

With courage and clarity of purpose, Governor Okpebholo has taken on the twin monsters of cultism and kidnapping—deep-rooted threats that have for years terrorised communities, crippled economic activities, and endangered the future of Edo’s youth. He understands, perhaps more than most, that insecurity is not just a law-and-order issue; it is an existential challenge. Where violence thrives, investment flees, communities fragment, and citizens lose faith in governance.

Determined to reverse this damaging tide, the Okpebholo administration has rolled out bold, coordinated, and sustained security interventions. Among the most notable are the launch of “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists,” a special task force created to dismantle criminal networks across the state; the comprehensive strengthening and retooling of the Edo State Security Corps in collaboration with conventional security agencies; and the provision of critical operational assets, including hundreds of motorcycles and patrol vehicles, to ensure rapid response even in difficult terrains. Complementing these actions are firm legislative reforms that impose stiffer penalties on kidnapping and cult-related crimes, sending a strong message to perpetrators, sponsors, collaborators, and harbourers of criminal elements that Edo State is no longer a safe haven for them.

Yet, as peace gradually returns, enemies of progress have not relented. Recent disturbances in Ekpoma, host community to the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), expose a more sinister dimension of the security challenge. What was initially portrayed as spontaneous protests over insecurity—particularly kidnapping—has, upon closer scrutiny, revealed itself as a coordinated riot, allegedly sponsored by unscrupulous political actors bent on frustrating and discrediting Governor Okpebholo and his APC-led government.

Even more troubling is the calculated manipulation of social media narratives. Certain opposition elements appear to be deliberately weaponising public sentiment, not only against the Edo State Government but also against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom Governor Okpebholo has openly pledged a resounding victory in the 2027 presidential election. As part of this orchestration, misleading videos purporting to depict kidnappings in Ekpoma were circulated—clearly misrepresented visuals designed to induce fear, spread panic, and tarnish the image of a government that is visibly delivering results. These stage-managed or falsely amplified incidents are aimed at sowing confusion and achieving narrow political ends.

While one must empathise with innocent students of Ambrose Alli University who may have been caught in the dragnet following the arrest and remand of alleged riotous mischief-makers, Governor Okpebholo deserves commendation for his humane and statesmanlike intervention in ordering the release of the students. His action underscores a leadership that values justice, restraint, and communal harmony, even in the midst of provocation.

The reality is clear: while cultism and organised violence remain genuine threats requiring vigilance, a new and more insidious danger has emerged—the deliberate distortion of truth. Misinformation, staged incidents, and propaganda now serve as tools to manufacture unrest where peace is steadily being restored.

This is why citizens—especially young people and members of university communities—must remain alert and discerning. They must resist the lure of sensational but false narratives and engage security agencies through lawful and constructive channels, rather than becoming instruments in schemes designed to plunge their communities back into chaos.

It is reassuring that Governor Okpebholo’s administration has made its position unequivocally clear: anyone who seeks to exploit insecurity, mislead the public, or orchestrate violence to undermine government efforts will be identified and held fully accountable. The law must, and will, take its course against those behind fake kidnappings, orchestrated disturbances, and other criminal deceptions.

In conclusion, Governor Monday Okpebholo must be appreciated for standing tall as a leader tested by adversity and unshaken by calculated political propaganda; for his firm resolve, and unwavering focus. Through strengthened collaboration with security agencies, deeper community engagement, and well-thought-out policies, his administration is laying the foundation for lasting peace across Edo State. With transparent governance and an unyielding commitment to the safety of every citizen, Edo is steadily marching toward a future where security is not only enforced but sustained—and where education, youth empowerment, and development can flourish free from the dark shadows of violence and intimidation.

Signed:

Hon. Pius Alile is the Deputy Chief of Staff, Edo State Government.