A Socio-political group, Edo Across Borders (EAB), has said Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s ‘The SIMPLE agenda’ manifesto will effectively address the weak security architecture in Edo.
The group said this in a statement signed by its chairman, Chief Gabriel Edeoghon, on Friday in Benin, the SIMPLE agenda of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) candidate in September 19, governorship election in the sate had captured how he hoped to develop the state’s security system with available resources without compromising accounting principles and laid down standards.
The SIMPLE agenda is an acronym that stands for Security, Infrastructural development, Manpower development, Public/Private Partnership, Leadership and Employment creation.
Edeoghon lamented that the rise in criminal activities such as kidnapping, cultism, amrmed robbery, among others, had dampened the city’s once lively spirit.
“Today the city is a security nightmare, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, the herdsmen menace and other unsavory criminal enterprise have become prevalent.
“The rise of criminality has tempered the city’s once vivacious spirit, and forced the realignment of significant cultural activities and celebrations.
“For example, night-time wake is as extinct as the dinosaur and social activity beyond a certain time is a hazardous enterprise.
“The disastrous and declining security situation has created a costly economic impact; earnings from nightlife commercial activities are virtually gone, and rich successful Edo citizens are in a constant state of anxiety because they are targets of opportunity for criminals,” he stated.
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The group posited that the security situation in the state had further deteriorated under the incumbent administration, describing the alleged neglect of the security situation in Edo as criminal in itself.
“This government has done nothing to stem the herdsmen menace prompting Edo citizens to develop their own security arrangements.
“Rebuilding the state’s crumbling infrastructure, revamping a moribund educational system and uplifting the social welfare of the people are all laudable progressive goals.
“But these significant economic and policy objectives milestones will never be realised unless the debilitating security situation is effectively addressed.
“The only candidate that has offered a plan to tackle this nightmare is Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu.
“In his Simple agenda he dissects the enormity of the crisis and acknowledges the inadequacy and unpreparedness of an underfunded, poorly equipped, unmotivated Nigerian Police force to handle the challenge.
“Pastor Osagie calls for the adoption of a global best practice approach to security delivery, revised security architecture, adequate crime fighting equipment and the establishment of a 911 emergency system.
“He also calls for an Edo State Security Trust fund which will be the primary mechanism by which his bold security initiatives will be achieved.
“EAB does not support POI blindly, his ideas and vision as boldly outlined in the SIMPLE agenda offers real solutions for moving our state forward,” it added.
