Edo: CRPP backs protest against hardship, calls for Okpebholo’s resignation

By Jethro Ibileke

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

It would be recalled that youths and other residents numbering several hundred on Wednesday staged a huge protest against several issues ranging from hike in petrol, epileptic power supply, poor states of road, high cost of food items among others in Benin, the Edo State capital.

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

CRPP in a statement on Thursday by its national chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, expressed concern over the increasing hardship the masses are passing through in Edo state in particular and Nigeria in general.

The statement said in part: “We have noted with grave concern that wherever you turn to in Edo state, it is lamentation. The heat of poverty is staring us in the face, we’ve never hard it this bad in Edo, that was what 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 state ever, kidnapping is unabated, unemployment is high, cost of house rent is beyond the reach of the citizens, there is no visible infrastructural development, bad and unmotorable roads everywhere, no functional health centers, entrepreneurs are moving out of the state because of high cost of running their businesses.

“CRPP supports Wednesday’s peaceful protest by the citizens in Benin to call 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 the poor living condition of its citizens, Isibor called on the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo to either sit up to its responsibility 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 to either wake up to his responsibilities or resign, because it is obvious that he is bereft of ideas to solve the alarming poverty confronting Edo people. Rather, he is only concerned with how to win the 2027 presidential for his Master and the so-called local government election in which we already know the outcome,” he said.