Edo State experienced better security during the tenure of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole than Anambra State did under ex-Governor Peter Obi, according to Oshiomhole himself. Speaking on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, the senator representing Edo North claimed that while Obi was in office from 2006 to 2014, the Bakassi Boys vigilante group operated with increasing lawlessness, contributing to a surge in kidnappings. Oshiomhole pointed to the administration of Obi's successor, Willie Obiano, who used bulldozers to raze properties linked to the Bakassi Boys and alleged kidnappers. He recalled that the situation in Anambra had deteriorated so severely that spouses were reportedly kidnapping each other. Oshiomhole, who governed Edo State from 2008 to 2016, stated that his state was safer during his time in office than Anambra was under Obi. He criticized Obi and other opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, for speaking against President Bola Tinubu's handling of insecurity without presenting tangible solutions. "Do the research. What were the first major decisions that Governor [Willie] Obiano took when he succeeded Peter Obi as governor?" Oshiomhole asked. He emphasized the need for leaders to deliver practical outcomes rather than rely on slogans or public image.
Adams Oshiomhole's claim that Edo was safer under his watch than Anambra under Peter Obi hinges on a narrative he cannot fully substantiate with data, relying instead on selective imagery of bulldozed buildings and sensational anecdotes. His criticism of Obi's security record ignores that vigilante groups like the Bakassi Boys were initially supported by state authorities before spiraling beyond control. By framing security as a matter of personal legacy rather than systemic policy, Oshiomhole reduces a complex issue to political point-scoring. The absence of verifiable crime statistics from either state during those years makes his comparison more rhetorical than factual.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
