The Candidate of Labour Party in the September 21 2024 Edo governorship election, Mr Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata has challenged Governor Godwin Obaseki to name, shame cultists in his cabinet, and stop playing the ostrich with cultism.
Speaking on Pidgin English Radio programme in Benin City, Akpata blamed the upsurge in cult activities on systemic failure and youth unemployment, which he promised to address if he is elected as Governor of the State.
“So, we must go to the root of the problem of cultism. I saw them on television screens saying, we have banned cultism. When I looked behind the Speaker on television, the man behind you, everybody knows that he is a cultist.
“Meanwhile, you stood in front saying, we have banned cultism. You’ had better turn around and begin the ban with the man behind your before you face the public.
“I do not believe in playing the ostrich by sticking your neck in the sand when your body is outside. We must call a spade a spade, not a garden implement.
“What I find disheartening is that most of these politicians, I dare them to actually go after these cultists. Name and shame them if they will not expose them”, Akpata declared.
The LP governorship Candidate, assured that his administration would look beyond the ban on Cultism and criminalizing cult activities and selective prosecution of suspected Cultists by fiat by the Governor.
But, he lamented that addressing the symptoms that promote cultism in Edo State ought to be a priority through a holistic approach instead of dealing with the hydra-headed monster in isolation.
He said, “I am a graduate of University of Benin (UNIBEN). I didn’t join cult. But, I had friends and a Cousin who were Cultists while we were in in the University”.
“When they graduated from school, they dropped cultism and began to hustle after security jobs, unlike this time when cultists are now more in the streets than in schools”.
“Today, when your hear cult war, you hear 18-10 like Basket Ball games. What I do not agree with is a recent declaration by the Governor. ‘I will ban cultism. I will criminalize cultism. I have been a lawyer for 30 years. That method doesn’t work that way.
“What are the issues that promoted social vices in our society? An idle’s mind is the devil’s workshop. Most of youths are homeless. What I do not like is hypocrisy or being a hypocrite”, Akpata said.
He also suggested proper investigation into cultism and make workable recommendations that will nip the menace in the bud, noting that
According to him, “Politicians are the ones giving cultists the power to engage in social vices. How? The Politicians send their children abroad.
“During elections, they empower hoodlums with guns with a view to cause trouble. You know what I am talking about.
“The question is after elections, do you meet the boys to retrieve their weapons from them? No! A gun is not a catapult. It has its unique roles.
“So, if the bearer of the arm cannot find a legitimate job to do after an election, what exactly do you think is going to happen? Such an individual will begin to hustle with his firearm”, he queried.
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