The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has strongly condemned the shooting and destruction of vehicles at the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun in Benin on Tuesday, describing the incident as reckless and deeply troubling.
In a statement made available to journalists in Benin, the CRPP Zonal Chairman, Samson Isibor, said the attack was carried out by hoodlums during a meeting of leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the residence of the former Edo State governor.
Dr. Isibor described the incident as outrageous, unwarranted, and completely unacceptable, stressing that Edo State is not known for such acts of violence.
“These developments under the current administration are a serious cause for concern,” he said. “We condemn this incident in its entirety and call on the state government led by the All Progressives Congress to urgently re-examine and recalibrate its approach to governance.”
According to him, the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property, not the intimidation or persecution of opposition figures.
“The essence of democracy lies in the existence of plural political parties,” Isibor stated. “Attempts to silence or eliminate opposition voices undermine democratic values and threaten political stability.”
While urging the state government to allow opposition parties to operate freely, the CRPP chairman also appealed directly to the governor to rein in overzealous supporters whose actions, he warned, could damage the state’s image and deter potential investors.
“Acts of brigandage and political violence are capable of driving away investors and tarnishing the reputation of Edo State,” Isibor said. “This must stop in the interest of peace, democracy, and development.”
The CRPP reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful political engagement and called on security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the attack are promptly identified and brought to justice.