PDP postpones inauguration of Edo guber campaign council
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has banned the activities of Okaigheles (Youth Leaders) in Edo South Senatorial District, as part of a renewed effort to tackle cultism in the state.
In another development, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has postponed, indefinitely, the inauguration of the Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council earlier scheduled to be held today.
Obaseki disclosed the ban to journalists after a closed-door meeting with security chiefs in the state, at the Government House, Benin City. Noting that at least 150 persons had been lost to cult-related activities and homicide since January 2024, Obaseki said his government declared total war against cultism and set up a special task force of the Security Council headed by the Director, Department of State Services (DSS) that will review every cult-related incident in the state.
He said, “We have just finished the security council meeting, where we reviewed the security situation in Edo since January 2024 with particular emphasis on the security activities in Edo in May 2024.
“From the security management report considered in our security meeting, we still have a nagging issue in Edo, which is cultism. The incidence is very high. What is particularly worrisome about cultism is the related homicide that goes with cult-related activities. From January to date, we have lost over 150 persons to cult-related activities and homicide. We cannot tolerate and accept this situation anymore.”
According to him, related cult activities are activities of Okaigeles in Edo South. “The council has prohibited forthwith activities of Okaigeles in Edo. Anybody who claims he is an Okaigele operating in any community will be dealt with strictly by the law.
“The outcome of our security council meeting today is that the state has declared full war on cultists and Okaigeles in Edo.”The Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, reassured that the security agencies would implement the council’s decision without fear or favour.
NATIONAL Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, stated, yesterday, that the postponement was due to the industrial action embarked upon by labour unions in the country.
“A new date for the inauguration will be communicated in due course,” he added. The party charged all members of the campaign council, party leaders, critical stakeholders, its teeming members and supporters in Edo and across the nation to continue in their unrelenting efforts towards the success of its governorship candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
