Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has called on his 36 counterparts across Nigeria to assume greater responsibility for tackling insecurity in their respective states, insisting that President Bola Tinubu cannot be solely blamed for the country's security challenges.
Okpebholo made the remarks during an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders' interactive session held at the Okaijesan Town Hall in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, over the weekend. A statement issued by the Edo Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, quoted the governor as saying that addressing insecurity requires a collective effort from all levels of government, noting that the President cannot be physically present across the country at the same time.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot come to Edo or visit all the states at the same time because he is just one person. If I protect Edo State and every other governor protects their states, insecurity will become a thing of the past,” Okpebholo said.
The governor described those blaming the President alone for insecurity as unfair, arguing that such critics ignore the constitutional responsibilities of state governments. He also criticised opposition politicians who had previously served as governors or vice president for attacking the current administration over insecurity, questioning what they did to address similar security challenges while in office.
“Many governors are working hard to solve security challenges across the nation. Governors should take charge of their various states and address the security situation. This is what is called sub-national responsibility, and it will help solve the problem,” he added.
In a related development, Okpebholo has alleged that some individuals are deliberately promoting insecurity in Nigeria in an attempt to destabilise the Tinubu administration because of the reforms being implemented by the Federal Government. Speaking at Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area, during the flag-off of the Edo Central APC campaign ahead of the July 11 local government election, the governor said state governors had resolved to support the President by taking a firm stance against criminal activities.
“All the jobs, all the constrictions, everything that we are doing today, it is Asiwaju that is giving us the money to do them. When they saw that he was working, they said they wanted to be disturbing him with insecurity, they brought insecurity. Now, Asiwaju boys, that is we, the governors, we are ready for them, we will finish them,” Okpebholo declared.
He assured residents that his administration would ensure that criminals are removed from Edo State, adding that farmers would soon return to their farmlands once kidnappers are cleared from farming communities. According to him, severe punishment for convicted criminals would serve as a deterrent to others who engage in violent crimes.
“It shall come to pass that by the time we publicly execute some of them, they will know that they will leave here and go home,” he said.
The Edo governor had earlier, on June 10, 2026, accused opposition parties of deploying insecurity to tarnish the perception of the Tinubu administration. Speaking at the flag-off of the APC campaign for the local government elections in Edo South Senatorial District, Okpebholo insisted that promoting insecurity would not guarantee the opposition seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, or the presidency.
“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock. They can even kidnap all of us — yes, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock,” he said. “What is happening today is the handiwork of the opposition. They have failed. Is it by kidnapping children? Then who are you going to govern? There will be nobody for you to govern. So let them give us peace so that we can rule well.”
Okpebholo insisted that President Tinubu has done more for the country than his predecessors, citing the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy, which he said can be seen and felt in various projects across the state. He also commended the President for encouraging accountability and transparency in the management of local government resources, noting that local government autonomy had enabled councils to directly access their allocations and focus on grassroots development.
“The President loves Edo State. When I met him, he told me not to touch local government funds, and I obeyed. The funds go directly to the local governments, and the chairmen are using them to bring development and growth across the 18 local government areas,” Okpebholo said.
The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has fixed July 11, 2026, for council polls across the 18 local government areas of the state.
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