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Attack on Senator Okpebholo’s convoy on Monday will not stop his victory
By Osehobo Ofure Victor
The PDP in Edo State is a violent party, doomed to failure. Little wonder that in June this year, the Deputy Director General (Media) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign organisation, Reverend Olu Martins, was arrested by the police and interrogated for alleged inflammatory and inciting statements regarding this month’s elections in our state.
Former Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, had noted that the priest’s statements were capable of sparking violence in the state.
“Recently, a viral video of inflammatory statements made by Rev. Olu Martins has been circulated which can heat up the election campaign processes in the state. It has been urged to act as a deterrent to others with similar behavior and we have also decided that the matter should be resolved in court,” he said.
This deterrent does not work as far as the PDP in Edo State is concerned regarding the upcoming elections. As a failed party, the party is known to revel in violence, especially when it is becoming clear that losing this month’s elections in Edo is inevitable.
Or how else to explain the escalating violence against the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, orchestrated by the PDP? Isn’t it an alarming reminder of the lengths to which losers are willing to go to justify their failures? In July, when his convoy was attacked by PDP hoodlums in uniform near the Benin City airport, it was dismissed as an isolated incident. But this week’s incident in Akoko-Edo suggests a more sinister and coordinated effort to derail the illustrious senator’s gubernatorial bid.
The attack on the APC campaign trail in Akoko-Edo on Thursday was not just another isolated or random act of violence; it is part of a larger strategy by the outgoing PDP government in Edo to harass and intimidate both Senator Okpebholo and APC supporters. It follows the promise made by Reverend Olu Martins. The alignment between his chilling statement and the real events now unfolding is hard to ignore.
In response to the Akoko-Edo attacks, the All Progressives Congress (APC) rightly called for the arrest of key PDP figures such as Tajudeen Bright Alade, Akoko-Edo Local Council Chairman, and Omobayo Godwins, both of whom were keen to answer questions about the orchestrated attack.
The party has details of how Tajudeen Alade, who was clearly frustrated by the large turnout at Okpebholo’s rallies, resorted to using thugs to disrupt the events. Despite earlier warnings, Okpebholo and his team continued their outreach, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.
In the towns of Ososo and Igarra, APC supporters were met with violence, harassment and intimidation. Masked thugs attempted to disperse rallies, but people remained undaunted, eager to hear the APC’s #TakeBackEdoState message. Even when attackers blocked Senator Monday Okpebholo’s campaign convoy, security personnel on the ground moved quickly to neutralize the threat, ensuring the campaign continued safely.
However, this violence is not just about physical attacks on the senator or his supporters. It is a reflection of a deeper political desperation on the part of the PDP-led government of Edo State. With Senator Okpebholo’s message resonating across Edo State, especially in Akoko-Edo, the PDP appears to be adopting the most satanic and violent means to halt his momentum. The attacks are symbolic of the PDP’s deeper fear of Okpebholo’s growing influence and the possibility of an APC victory on September 21.
Ironically, this pattern of violence began much earlier. The July 18 attack on Benin City Airport, which tragically claimed the life of Police Inspector Onu Ako, a member of his assigned security detail, was a clear attempt on the life of Senator Okpebholo. Gunmen ambushed the Senator and his team shortly after they arrived from Abuja. It was the launch of the PDP’s dangerous campaign of political intimidation. The loss of life in that attack has, sadly, been downplayed. One officer on duty left behind a widow and fatherless children. However, the bloody incident underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for security agencies to act decisively to protect Senator Monday Okpebholo, his supporters and non-PDP residents of Edo State.
However, these unprovoked attacks cannot and will not affect Senator Monday Okpebholo in any way. He remains steadfast in his mission to restore our state. He continues to tour the state, spreading his message of hope after eight years of PDP rule. The Senator’s refusal to be silenced by violence is a testament to his determination, resilience and dedication to rebuilding Edo State. No amount of violent desperation will stop the Senator’s campaign, nor will it diminish the resolve of the electorate in our state, who are increasingly rallying behind him.
Can the Edo PDP use political violence to undermine the senator’s imminent victory in this month’s elections? The actions of those behind these attacks suggest that they believe they can. But they are doomed because failure is their share! History has shown that violence and intimidation are not profitable electoral currencies. In fact, history says that they often galvanise the very people they seek to oppress. In this case, the more Senator Okpebholo’s convoy or campaign is attacked, the more support he gets from the people of Edo, who see these attacks for what they are: acts of desperation by a frustrated PDP government certain to lose its grip on power.
The APC’s call for the arrest of Tajudeen Alade and Omobayo Godwins is a necessary step. Furthermore, the Inspector General of Police and the State Security Service must act swiftly to investigate and bring these perpetrators to justice. Failure to do so will not only embolden the PDP but also set a dangerous precedent.
Senator Okpebholo’s campaign is based on the message “A new Edo is rising” as opposed to the PDP slogan “Prosperity for all” after eight years of mismanaging and squandering the resources of the Edo people! The choice before the electorate is clear: support a candidate who offers a vision for the future or side with those who love violence and intimidation?
The PDP must realise that its attacks on Senator Monday Okpebholo are counterproductive. Violence cannot silence the will of the people. Edo people are watching and every attack only strengthens their resolve to see a New Edo with Senator Okpebholo as governor. The people of Edo State deserve nothing less.
Ultimately, the attacks on Senator Okpebholo’s campaign will not stop his victory. They may slow him down, but they will not stop the inevitable change that is coming. Edo people are ready and no amount of violence can take away their right to choose the illustrious Senator Monday Okpebholo to win.
……. Osehobo, APC Assistant State Secretary for Publicity, is a member of the Publicity Committee of the APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council.
