Press Release of Aisha Wahab and the PDP’s Puerile Reaction

RE: Release of Aisha Wahab and the PDP’s Puerile Reaction

When a political party is manifestly bereft of ideas on how to handle security matters, it becomes obvious—even to the simplest observer—through its own conduct. Security issues are not matters for beer parlour debates, nor are they for beer parlour commentators like Dan Osa-Ogbegie. What does he know about rescuing kidnap and hostage victims? These matters are well beyond his depth.

The PDP, a party still rooted in propaganda-driven governance and social-media grandstanding, left behind a history of rot and decay in Edo State. They papered over cracks instead of addressing them, and the consequences are what we are dealing with today. Yet they now attempt to blame Senator Monday Okpebholo—Voltron, the defender of the universe—for challenges he inherited from their years of misrule. Have they forgotten so soon that their own party chairman, Dr. Aziegbemi, was kidnapped under their watch and spent a considerable period in captivity? Perhaps the kidnappers only returned to sender.

The APC-led government is fully on top of the security situation in Edo State. In the case of Aisha Wahab, the government has once again demonstrated its capability and strategic intelligence. Security operations do not permit noise-making or grandstanding, especially when lives are at stake. But the PDP would have preferred the Governor to resort to cheap propaganda on television and social media—a reckless and counter-productive approach.

Our security agents and a crack team of detectives meticulously deployed all necessary tactics to geo-locate and secure her release without harm. Those seeking to exploit such a tragic incident for cheap political gain may very well be the architects of the insecurity they loudly decry.

After all, before the last gubernatorial election, PDP chieftains publicly threatened to burn down Edo State if they lost. Their utterances alone justify scrutiny, and the suggestion that they may be masterminds of kidnapping activities in Edo State cannot be dismissed. Relevant security agencies have been duly alerted to focus their investigations in this direction to unravel any conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the state. They are now persons of interest, and the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.

We remain proud of the strides Governor Monday Okpebholo has made in ensuring Edo State is safe and secure for all. As the saying goes, “He may not be your cup of tea—but perhaps it is your taste that is questionable.” The Governor is performing exceptionally across critical sectors of our economy.

The PDP must be reminded that security matters are not tools for popularity contests. We are under no obligation to reveal the discreet processes deployed to secure Aisha Wahab’s freedom. What matters is that she has been safely reunited with her loved ones—and on that, we are proud.

Prince Kassim AfegbuaHonourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Edo State