The Coalition of Registered Political Parties has called for a public apology by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over the use of pepper spray on students during the Children’s Day celebration by a member of a private security outfit.
In a statement on Friday by its National Chairman, CRPP, Francis Isibor, the group condemned the use of private security for an event of that magnitude, noting that the incident, which led to the collapse of students, could have been avoided.
Reports indicated that some male students of a government secondary school notorious for cultism invaded the venue and allegedly attempted to force themselves on female students, which allegedly triggered the use of pepper spray by bouncers.
Sadly, some students, mostly female, were seriously injured and collapsed in a stampede resulting from the pandemonium.
The statement read, “This tragedy, which had 50 children being hospitalised, has again exposed Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government as very weak and lacking in crowd control mechanism, and its failure to protect the children, especially the girl-child. It further exposed the government that prides itself as children and youth-friendly as a mere smoke screen.
“The successful invasion of the stadium by suspected cultists also belied the Okpebholo’s government claim to having totally obliterated cultism in the state. It is now obvious that he has much work to do on security in the state as cultism and other criminal activities still fester.
“There are questions begging for answers. Why should a government use non state actors such as Bouncers operated by private companies and are not trained for large crowd control to take control of a ceremony of such magnitude?
“Why should the use of tear gases and pepper spray to disperse unruly crowds that resorted in the pandemonium and the avoidable trampling of innocent students who tried to escape from the stadium.
“CRPP therefore demands an unreserved apology from Governor Monday Okpebholo and his government to Edo children and their parents over this avoidable calamity perpetrated by incompetent State and non-state actors.”
Meanwhile the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, described as a lie Isibor’s claim that 50 students were hospitalised.
He said, “I have told you people that I won’t give one faceless Isibor any recognition for running an unregistered body, and running it for over 20 years like a personal fiefdom.”