By OMORODION OMOREGIE

In a brazen display of lawlessness and desperation, thugs allegedly directed and/or led by Edo State APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe and the infamous Ebo Stone, launched an attack on the PDP Secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, today, Thursday, January 16, 2025. Under the pretext of ?reclaiming property,? the thugs, with a Government House Press crew van seen among the many vehicles which brought them, ransacked and looted the offices, vandalized equipment, and destroyed vital resources, including computers. This assault, clearly intended to obstruct the PDP?s petition readiness, is in continuation of a broader campaign of intimidation and subversion of democratic processes by the APC.

This act of thuggery represents the culmination of the ruling party?s descent into despotism and further underscores the profound leadership failure that has defined Monday Okpebholo?s administration. The events of today are not isolated; they reflect a pattern of lawlessness and abuse of power that has left Edo State in a state of disarray.

Edo State which once stood on the cusp of transformative progress is now moving from hope to despair. The reforms of the past administration laid a foundation for growth, from educational advancements to infrastructure projects aimed at driving economic development. The state was poised to become a model of governance in Nigeria, a beacon of what visionary leadership could achieve.

Yet, under the Okpebholo-led government, that promise has been squandered. Instead of building on the gains of the past, this administration has dragged Edo into the depths of mediocrity, corruption, and chaos. What should have been a time of consolidation and growth has become a period of regression, where intimidation, violence, and lawlessness take precedence over governance and development. Today, the state has been saddled with a government more interested in self-preservation than service, with the lost opportunities a stark reminder of what happens when leadership lacks vision and integrity.

Leadership Defined by Lawlessness

The attack on the PDP Secretariat is emblematic of the broader culture of impunity that has become the hallmark of the Okpebholo administration. Armed thugs and illegal revenue agents operate freely, terrorising citizens under the guise of state-sanctioned activities. This lawlessness is not limited to political opponents; it has permeated every aspect of society, with commercial drivers, market women, and ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of these draconian measures.

Rather than uphold the rule of law, the government appears complicit in its erosion. The security apparatus, including the police and DSS, has been reduced to bystanders in the face of these brazen acts. Today?s attack on the PDP Secretariat is just one more instance in a long list of abuses that have gone unchecked. Just yesterday, in a puerile attempt at a false flag operation, a known APC thug, masquerading as a PDP supporter was captured on video openly brandishing a pump-action shotgun on Sapele Road, close to the premises of the Election Tribunal, apparently unnoticed by those charged with maintaining aw and order.

At the heart of this administration?s failures lies its desperation to do any and everything to consolidate its illegitimate and tenuous grip on power. The widely held public perceptions of a stolen mandate have dogged the Okpebholo government since its inception, and rather than seek legitimacy through good governance, it has resorted to intimidation and violence. Political opponents are harassed, dissenting voices silenced, and democratic institutions undermined.

The attack on the PDP is clearly a calculated attempt to derail its ability to challenge the election results. By targeting the opposition?s preparedness for its petition, the APC has shown its willingness to subvert democratic processes to maintain its hold on power.

The loss to Edo State Is immeasurable when we consider what could have been. With visionary leadership, the state could have been a hub of innovation, education, and industrial development. Instead, it has become a shadow of its potential, mired in lawlessness and corruption. The opportunities to attract investment, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for Edo citizens have been squandered by a government more focused on self-preservation than service.

Edo could have been a shining example of what governance looks like when driven by integrity and vision. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale of what happens when mediocrity and venality are allowed to flourish.

In charting a way forward, today?s attack must be taken as a wake-up call for the people of Edo. It underscores the urgent need to hold this administration accountable and to demand better from those in positions of power. Democracy cannot thrive in an environment of fear and intimidation.

Edo people must not lose hope and must act with resolve and courage, to reclaim their state from the grip of lawlessness and incompetence. The current administration?s failures should serve as a rallying cry for citizens to demand better. The fight for a better Edo is not just about one administration?it is about ensuring that the principles of good governance, accountability, and democracy prevail.

Edo deserves better than this. It deserves leadership that prioritizes the welfare of its people, respects the rule of law, and works tirelessly to fulfill the state?s immense potential. Joy is coming.

?Omorodion Omoregie, a public affairs analyst, writes from Benin City.

Update news