His position was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, following the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government election campaign for Edo North Senatorial District at the Public Field in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area.
Addressing party supporters, Oshiomhole said the current administration had restored civil liberties in Edo State, stressing that only criminals should be worried by the government’s policies.
“I stand here to completely endorse the declaration by the governor of Edo State that we are in a federation where every state has the right to enact laws on punishment when it comes to state offences. So kidnappers and bandits will be punished by death through firing squad,” he said.
The former governor also reaffirmed his support for the establishment of state police, saying such a system would strengthen ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to combat insecurity across the country.
Governor Okpebholo, who also addressed the gathering, said his administration remained focused on improving the welfare of Edo residents through infrastructure development and other people-oriented projects.
According to him, the government has commenced several projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of roads, schools and markets, aimed at enhancing the quality of life of citizens.
“We have embarked on massive infrastructural development in the state, including roads, schools, markets and others. These achievements were not there in the past, but this administration has made them possible,” the governor said.
Okpebholo also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy, describing the policy as one that had significantly increased the funds available to state governments for development.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has provided more funds for governors across the country to develop their states. This is the money we are using as a government to develop Edo State through massive road construction, schools and other infrastructure projects,” he said.
The governor explained that the campaign rally was organised to formally present the APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates to voters ahead of next month’s local government election. He urged party members to mobilise support for the candidates while expressing confidence that the APC would also deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu during the 2027 general election.
He further applauded the completion of rehabilitation work on the Auchi–Ekpoma–Benin Road, describing it as one of the major achievements of the Tinubu administration, and encouraged party faithful to intensify grassroots mobilisation to secure victory for the APC.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, urged the party’s candidates to focus on grassroots development if elected, insisting that residents across all 18 local government areas of Edo State should benefit from democratic governance.
“This election is a major step towards the 2027 general election in the country. I thank the leadership of the party for building a strong party in Edo State,” Momoh said.
The APC State Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, called on the party’s candidates to emulate the state’s founding leaders by placing priority on development and effective service delivery. He described local governments as the closest tier of government to the people and urged incoming council chairmen to work closely with Governor Okpebholo to extend the administration’s development agenda to every community.
The campaign rally was also attended by the APC Deputy State Chairman, Sylvester Aigboboh, alongside other senior government officials, who joined in mobilising support for the party’s candidates ahead of the forthcoming local government election.