By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Still trying to untangle itselfrom the controversy that arose from Governor Monday Okpebholo’s threat against Peter Obi, the former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in 2025, the Edo State Government on Monday, April 2, 2026, officially distanced itself from the recent outburst by Emmanuel Eghogho, one of Governor’s Aides against the opposition Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the former Anambra State Governor.
The Source reports that a viral video online last week had shown Eghogho , making both incendiary and inflammatory comments about ADC members in Edo state,as well as threatening to deal with them .
The obviously embittered aide ,later hauled insults on the person of Obi and other chieftains of ADC , warning them warning Obi not to make any public appearance anywhere in Edo state, before ,and during the 2027 polls.
The Governor’s aide,also expressed the readiness to hunt down and hand over to the security agencies , any identified supporter or sympathizer of the opposition camp .
Ironically and even more embarrassingly, the threats and tantrums were thrown right before the very presence of the Edo state Police Commissioner CP Monday Agbonika ,who rather than reprimand or take action just put a mien suggestive of applauding the said aide.
Expectedly, the action of the Governor’s aide coming just a couple of months after a similar outburst by his principal, has continued to generate widespread indignation and condemnations, with not a few lashing out at the Edo State Police boss for seemingly approving of such unbecoming and anti-democratic posturing .
The despicable conduct of the aide has, also placed the Edo State Government on the spot.
But reacting on Monday the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua , while condemning the uncouth behaviour and utterances of the aide ,noted that Governor Okpebholo’ has zero tolerance for acts of gangsterism, political hooliganism or any attempt to subdue the opposition, using foul language and threats.
“We want to disown that statement as not the position of Government, but as the voice of an individual who is also amenable to existing laws of the land .
“I think it is the media that makes people like Eghogho important . When you ignore, and face larger issues, people will not take such a young man seriously .
“But I am just telling you that this is not Government position ,and the views expressed ,do not reflect those of the Government..
“We, therefore, frown totally against such kind of incendiary statements as credited to person popularly known as Egogo. It is not our article of trade. It is not our thematic focus as a Government..
“Rather, we try as much as possible to promote unity of purpose ,a spirit of camaraderie among all Edo citizens and residents..
” If you have any cause to do business in Edo state, we want you to be happy when you come. That is why we have invested so much in security” Afegbua stated .
This was as he emphasized that it is the responsibility of the security agencies to decide how to handle the situation at hand.
” It is the law enforcement agencies that will decide what to do in the present circumstance. If they feel troubled by what he said, they can handle him accordingly.
” It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to rein in people in the system” he added.
The Edo state Command had earlier embarked on what many have perceived as both a belated ,and unconvincing attempt to exonerate the CP.
In a statement from its spokesperson Eno Ikoedem, the Command distanced the CP from the offensive remarks by Eghogho .
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