The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Edo State Government have traded words over insecurity in the state.

This followed the release of Miss Aisha Wahab, who was kidnapped in Auchi and held captive by kidnappers for over almost one month.

Aisha was released after N20m was allegedly paid as ransom.

The Edo PDP accused the administration of Governor Okpebholo of sleeping while Edo citizens and groups intervened through moral and financial support.

It said Governor Okpebholo abandoned what it termed the “solid and time-tested security architecture established by former Governor Godwin Obaseki” and opted for a “path of destruction, dismantling tested systems through propaganda, disinformation, and unrelenting partisanship driven by sheer pettiness and malice.”

Spokesman for the Edo PDP, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, in a statement, urged Governor Okpebholo to stop the charade, abandon propaganda, and get to work.

“Governance is not theatre; it is sacred duty. Edo people deserve security, dignity, and protection, not excuses.”

But Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said security tactics don’t allow for noise and fulmination, especially when kidnapping was involved.

According to him, “What the PDP wanted the Governor to do was to behave in a most ludicrous manner, and apply cheap propaganda in the process, and then sing on television and social media platforms about Aisha Wahab.

“That would have been most counter-productive. The security agents and our crack team of detectives, applied all that was necessary and propitious to geo-locate her, then followed through on all the leads, and ensured that she was released unscathed. Those who are trying to take advantage of such a condemnable act to score cheap political points, may very well be the architects of kidnapping activities in Edo state.

“The current Edo State Governor is doing very well in the critical sectors of the Edo economy.

“The opposition PDP is hereby reminded that security issues cannot be used for popularity contest. We are not duty bound to expose the discrete process that was employed to secure Aisha’s release; and we are proud and happy, that we secured her release.” (The Nation)