For the first time in nine years, Xmas celebrations crept away without bloodbath in Benin City and other major towns in the state. It was the first sigh of relief after such a long time, being detained by the unwholesome activities of cultism.
Benin City is breathing air of nourishment, air of refreshment, of freedom and air of recovery from the octopoidal grip of cultism since Governor Okpebholo took the mantle of leadership in the state. Night life has resumed in Benin.
The new feeling is one of celebration. Those who visited Benin City from far and wide, in and outside the country, have cause to celebrate and appreciate the intervention of the Governor in ensuring that all was well. There was first of its kind carnival celebration that added to the beauty of the celebrations.
There were comedy shows that drew A-artists from across the country. Several events took place in Benin City and they were held in an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and calm. The question easily asked was; how did Governor Okpebholo achieve this feat? That is the power of a strong political will. The power of conviction. The power of resilience and unflinching commitment.
When Governor Okpebholo assumed office, he inherited a state where cult-related killings was the order of the day. He made up his mind almost immediately that his government was not going to tolerate these unwholesome killings, no matter how highly placed the culprits were.
He sounded the warning bell and reminded anyone who cared to listen, that a new Sherif was in town. He held several meetings with members of these cult groups and rolled out his no-cult killing vision and mission to them. He was very clear-headed on what he wanted. He told them that under his watch, it would be zero-tolerance to cultism and its associated vices. He took the anti-cultism law to the State Assembly to tinker with, and injected some new provisions that would strengthen its scope to make it more encompassing. Once the amendments were passed, he got equiped with the right operative law that would back his action.
From one house to another, demolition exercise became the order of the day once it was established that you’ve committed the act. Court orders were also obtained most times to give legal teeth to the action being taken by government. From Arena to different homes, the buildings kept going down and the cultists took to their heels. Landlords were also notified of the implication of accepting cultists as tenants in their homes.
The landlords also helped the government to pass on the message of caution to their would-be tenants. Before long, the cautionary measure became the article of faith across the state. The Committee set up to drive this cleansing exercise across the state became very productive and result driven. From Edo South to Edo Central, and Edo North, the message was the same. And Edo state started getting its groove back. Night life returned. Night economic activities have bounced back.
Edo now bubbles. All thanks to the Governor’s commitment to get rid of cultists across the state. The operation clean up Edo state is still ongoing. A lot of cultists have denounced their membership, while a lot others have ran away from the state.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, the akpakomisa of Edo state deserves commendation for this rare feat. It is an achievement the opposition politicians in the state will choose to ignore. When the Governor scores first, they look the other way. Whenever the Governor makes a breakthrough, they try to distract and divert attention, through deliberate act of commission and omission.
But Edo sons and daughters who came home in their numbers to celebrate the yuletide are full of appreciation and commendation for this rare achievement recorded by the Governor. The Governor surely deserves every bit of encomium we could shower on him for making the yuletide one of a worthy and interesting experience. Rather than blood, Benin was painted in different alluring colours sparkling from the flashes of well calibrated streets and art works. A carnival that brought some candour to dominate our streets, with excitement, pomp and ceremony.
Prince Kassim Afegbua, MNIPR
Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy,
Edo state.
