Concerned Edo South Leaders Movement.- Maiden press conference on the security status of Edo State- 27th Jan.2010

Rising from an emergency meeting in Benin City, we the undersigned executives of this movement, after due consultations with our numerous members and other Benin stakeholders do resolve to address the press on the burning issues of insecurity and the sanctity of the electoral process. It is clear to all and sundry that Edo south geographical area is the most affected by the rising wave of kidnapping and violent crimes in Edo State, hence we received with shock and consternation the news of the sudden withdrawal of the military from the Joint Task Force by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Godwin Abbe rtd penultimate week under the guise of preventing military involvement in the Etsako Central House of Assembly seat re-run election. Of paramount concern to us was the deliberate and diabolic resort to flouting the orders of President Yar Adua, who approved of the military participation in the wake of violent crimes and kidnapping in Edo State.

As stakeholders in the security and welfare of the Benin nation, we condemn the recent adoption of the Bishop of Anglican Diocese, and chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria- Bishop Imasuen by Kidnappers on Sunday, it will amount to gross docility on our part if we fail in our natural duties to tell our brother and son Gen. Abbe that he has betrayed Edo people and the Binis in particular for his subservience to the whims and caprices of the political dictator who has betrayed Edo people over the years with his retrogressive political leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

It is laughable to note that a defense Minister in an attempt to please his godfather would totally disregard the orders of his boss (President Umaru Musa Yar Adua) and render vulnerable the very people he was appointed to protect and defend. Sequel to his undisputed role in the disengagement of the military from the Joint Task Force, which has rendered our people vulnerable to the satanic act of kidnappings and violent crimes in Edo State- we are demanding that Gen. Abbe should within seven days tender an unreserved apology to the people of Edo State. Any attempt to undermine this ultimatum would provoke a Ten Thousand-man procession to the Presidential villa to demand for his resignation. Customarily speaking, “aimuo-okuo yevbuomwan” it is a taboo in Bini land for a man or a woman to spearhead a war or clandestinely instigate crisis against his own clan, village or settlement or people; therefore, in as much as Gen. Abbe has continued to work within the dictates of Mr.-Fix-it to the detriments of the entire Edo people, so long we will continue to denounce his leadership. This is not one of those press-relevance that people seek on the pages of newspapers, at least, no one should be in doubt of our resolve to actualize this objective.

We seek this medium to congratulate the Comrade Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and the leadership of the Action Congress and Hon. Johnson Oghumah for the well deserved victory at the Etsako Central re-run on the 23rdof January 2010. We use this medium to solicit the cooperation of all Edo people to imbibe the doctrine of One Man- One Vote. We are all witnesses to election instigated-violence in Nigeria, and unless we stick to the new order which were exemplified in the Akoko Edo and Etsako re-runs, we will plunge our dear state into crises, and those godfathers who engineer such violent dispositions would had sent their children abroad and to safe places, only to expose the masses into violence.

Mr. Godwin Adenomo- Leader-Ovia South West
Mr. Kenneth Edebiri- Leader- Oredo/Uhumwonde
Mr. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo- Leader- Ikpoba-Okha/ Orhionmwon

Mr. Osahon Imaru- Leader-Oredo/Orhionmwon
Ms. Osaro Obadigie JP- Leader Oredo/ Uhunmwonde
Mr. Benson Osifo JP- leader- Ikpoba-Okha/Oredo
Barr. Vincent Uwadia- Leader- Ovia North East
cc; The Governor of Edo State- Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa CFR, the Oba of Benin