CRPP backs Edo protest, demands Okpebholo’s resignation

By Jethro Ibileke

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has thrown its support behind Wednesday’s peaceful protest against poor living conditions in Edo State.

It will be recalled that youths and other residents, numbering several hundreds, staged a massive protest on Wednesday over a range of issues, including the hike in petrol prices, epileptic power supply, poor road conditions, and the high cost of food items, among others.

The protesters demanded urgent government intervention to address rising food prices, unemployment, and the high cost of living in the country.

The CRPP, in a statement on Thursday by its National Chairman, Samson Isibor, expressed concern over the increasing hardship being experienced by the masses in Edo State in particular and Nigeria in general.

The statement read in part:

“We have noted with grave concern that wherever you turn in Edo State, there is lamentation. The reality of poverty is staring us in the face. We have never had it this bad in Edo, and this led to the massive protest by youths and other citizens in Benin on Wednesday.

“Edo is at a standstill, as if there is no government in the state. Insecurity is at its worst level, kidnapping is unabated, unemployment is high, and the cost of house rent is beyond the reach of citizens. There is no visible infrastructural development, and roads are in a deplorable and unmotorable condition. There are no functional health centres, while entrepreneurs are relocating due to the high cost of running businesses.

“CRPP supports Wednesday’s peaceful protest by citizens in Benin to draw the attention of the state and federal governments to the deplorable conditions in the state in particular and the country in general.”

Commenting on the state government’s alleged helplessness in tackling poor living conditions, Isibor called on the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to either sit up to his responsibilities or resign.

“CRPP condemns the lackadaisical and nonchalant attitude of Governor Monday Okpebholo. Sadly, there is no visible effort from his government to ameliorate the suffering of our people.

“We therefore call on Okpebholo to either wake up to his responsibilities or resign, because it is obvious that he is bereft of ideas to tackle the alarming poverty confronting Edo people. Rather, he is only concerned with how to secure victory in the 2027 presidential election for his master and the so-called local government elections, the outcome of which is already predictable,” he said.