A member of the disbanded Edo State Neighbourhood Watch Committee, and Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo South Senatorial District, Mr. Solomon Ago, has hailed the state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, for dissolving the committee saying, “it has become a meal ticket and as such defeated its purpose”.

Mr. Ago argued that “though the action of the governor affected me, since it was done in the best interest of the state. It is in order.”

He described those being sponsored to protest against the decision as hoodlums who merely sit in the comfort of their homes and collect monthly salaries without the commensurate work done.   According to him, “I graduated over ten years ago without a job until Governor Oshiomhole came on board. I was lucky to be a member of the committee and as such, earned a living from the committee. On a monthly basis, I earn N50,000 but I must agree that we were merely earning salaries without doing any spectacular work or assignment.

”If you ask me, Edo State Government should demand for value for money earned by all workers including civil servants. Nigeria and Edo state cannot be administered in such a manner that suggests that government’s offers and appointments are meal tickets for party officials.

”It is regrettable that some persons have hijacked the entire process, mobilized members to the streets in the name of protest. I have decided to take my stand because the opposition Peoples Democratic Party last week instigated some of us using their sympathizer and beneficiary of the committee (name withheld).

“This is not his first time to attempt to blackmail Edo state Government to achieving his selfish purpose. The protest is uncalled for, the protest is ill-conceived and unreasonable.”

While urging government to reconstitute the committee, Ago advised  that  “standards must be set for would-be members, while putting in adequate measures to check indolence, incompetence, and mediocrity.”