PDP CHIEFTAIN BLASTS PARTY OVER COMMENTS ON SECURITY VOTE

BENIN-PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State has been advised to stop politicising the security challenge in the state, but to proffer solutions that would check the activities of hoodlums in the state.

An opinion leader and member of PDP in Edo South Senatorial District, Chief Okhomina Imafidon, in a statement said: 'I was shocked last week when I read of reports calling for the probe of Oshiomhole's security votes since he assumed office.

'I believe that as an opposition party, we should be careful in hurling stones at the market place because the potential victim could be a relative or a beloved one. What should concern us is the collective security of the state and not that of Governor Oshiomhole as the party is trying to portray in recent times.

'Insecurity has assumed a global threat. Nigeria and Edo State are not isolated from it. The country as a whole is still held bound by spate of insecurity and even more daring ones to the nation's top security organisations in Abuja with decapitating effects across the states and the regions. It is, therefore, worrisome and smacks of double standard and irresponsibility for chieftains of my party and one that controls Federal Government to engage in this voyage.

'My party is in charge at the centre with challenges on how to tackle insecurity. I am also more worried as it seems we are almost clueless about the recent resurgence in insecurity, bombings and killings in the country as they assumed unimaginable magnitude. So, to point accusing fingers at a state governor, who is simply not in the same party with us is a condemnable act.

'The worse thing is to reduce the issue of insecurity to party politics and consequently run down a legitimate govern-ment. For anyone to demand Oshiomhole to account for security votes is to trivialise the seriousness of the issue. I think this is childish, unpatriotic and an attempt to deliberately reduce the sanctity of lives to the pursuit of grabbing political power.'