BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has given kudos to all the security agencies for their efforts in ensuring absolute peace and security during the recent governorship election in the state, saying that the state had tension-soaked governorship election and not one person was hospitalized, not to talk of anybody being shot and killed either by thugs or by the police.
Speaking while receiving the State Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Mr. David Adi and the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Eze Benito at the Government House, Benin City, Friday, Governor Oshiomhole said, “I want to join you in appreciating that in spite of the tension which you could almost feel a couple of weeks before and during the election, and even after the election, I am very proud of the efforts of all the security agencies, the result of which is that in the entire South-South geopolitical zone which is infamous for election violence, even kidnapping and adoption, that we conducted a tension-soaked governorship election and not one person was hospitalized, not to talk of anybody being shot and killed either by thugs or by police. If nobody appreciates us, we should appreciate ourselves for that outcome.”
He continued, “I shared this sentiment with the British ambassador yesterday, and like me, he agreed that basic or central to whether election was free and fair is: were people free to be able to move to the polling booths and go back home without being attacked? In this case, yes. That is what happened. The only attack we had was by a traditional ruler who slapped somebody and the police excused him.”
He lauded the security agencies, “So, I want to congratulate you for that role and I hope that this standard that we have set will be maintained even long after my departure. For us in Edo State, free and fair election is not negotiable, and that was why when those who lost wanted to protest, like Trump would say, if I don’t win, I will not accept. There are people who have such frame of mind: election is only free and fair if they win, if they lose, it is not free. I think the police asked them not to protest or deny them the right to protest, I said, no. Footballers as wise as they should be, including their coach, after you lose a football match, the more narrow the margin of defeat, the more painful the defeat, and you see stars crying on the field because they thought that it was their birthright to have the trophy but God gave it to the other side. Everybody knows at some level of rationality that somebody must win and God will have to make that decision about who wins. So, if said if people want to protest, allow them. And I issued a statement that they are free to protest just like we are free to celebrate, and we are celebrating. I hope that even if you are not here, because your posting is very regular, in your record of service, it will be said that while you were here, you participated in an election in which no life was lost and nobody was hospitalized. I think you deserve that commendation, and I do commend you.”
The governor said he is happy that illegal migrants who used to constitute nuisance in the state have been deported to their countries accordingly, “I am aware in the course of my being here, the service has had course to apprehend and deport many foreigners who were staying in Edo State illegally, and some of whom were even involved in activities that threaten state security. So, I readily appreciate your role beyond issuance of passport and resident permit. You are a very major player in our state security apparatus. So, how far we are able to succeed in keeping illegal alien out of country, I believe it remain a permanent challenge which Nigeria has to deal with and Edo State division of your service has a role to play. So, I readily appreciate that. I do appreciate some of the innovations which your service has introduced including a hundred page passport.”
He expressed worry about the few security challenges still existing in some parts of the region saying, “I do appreciate that we still have few security challenges – people breaking pipelines and other activities that undermine public asset which I understand is part of your mandate. Whatever we can do to support, we would like to, except that as you know things are extremely bad right now.”
The Governor offered to provide a parcel of land for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to build their secretariat, “I will provide the land and deliver you with the certificate of occupancy, and use that to persuade your headquarters to start constructing a permanent structure to house your service.”
Speaking earlier, the Edo State Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Services, (NIS) Mr. David Adi said he was in Government House to pledge their loyalty and acquaint the Governor with the activities of the Service,
He stressed, “There is a need for us to formally call on you to place our loyalty to you and your government and also to avail you of the services the Immigration Service renders to the people of Edo State. Let me congratulate you on the resounding victory of your party, the APC at the gubernatorial election. I know that the people of Edo State have spoken and they have spoken well, and your victory is due to your developmental projects to the people of Edo State.”
According to him, ” The Immigration has decentralized the issuance of passport so as to ensure people no longer suffer by going to Abuja to obtain their passports. The Comptroller General said, no. He doesn’t want to suffer the people. He wants the services rendered to them in their various states. To this extent, we have been giving passports to Edo people that got married at Ikpoba Hill here in Benin. The next phase of decentralization is the issuance of official passports.”
While assuring the Governor of their readiness to support the state, he described Governor Oshiomhole as a national asset, “Our officers are combat ready to assist the state government when the need arises. We see you as an asset not only to this state but to the federal government. I know and pray that God will give you a higher responsibility.” Also speaking, the Edo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Dr. Eze Benito congratulated Governor Oshiomhole on his victory in the recent governorship election in the state and attributed the peace recorded during the election largely to the legacy of the governor, “I use the opportunity to congratulate you on the emergence of the party as the winning party in the just concluded gubernatorial election. I know that it is not without reference to the good legacy which you have laid in the state.”
Dr. Benito continued, “Having been deployed to Edo State as the substantive state commandant, taking over from my predecessor few days before the election in Edo State, I will say I was saddled with a lot of challenges and responsibilities to ensure that the over fifteen thousand personnel both from the neighbouring states and the indigenous state, the indigenes here, we tried as much as possible to ensure that we participated effectively in the aspect of protection of life and discharging our duties during that period.”
While assuring the Governor of their commitment not to let the state down, the NSCDC boss appealed to the governor for support in the area of office accommodation.
