Edo State Government, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged plot by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to recruit thugs masquerading as students to cause disaffection in the state under the guise of bursary awards and scholarships.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria, in a statement, said "The 'students' held a clandestine meeting at the Students Union Government building og the University of Benin, threatening to mobilise students to agitate on the streets of Benin after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum to the government to commence payment of bursary.
"We want to state clearly that the payment of bursary is not a 'birthright' as the 'students' claim and is not compulsory for a state government, as there are many states in the federation, which do not pay bursaries. Some states, which are generally described as disadvantaged in terms of western education, pay bursary to encourage their students to go for higher education.
"To, therefore, equate Edo State, which even the students admit ranks tops on the education scale and has one of the highest number of students in tertiary institutions in the country with such educationally-disadvantaged states as Yobe and Zamfara, is comical.
"While the 'students' revealed they were hired hands with the way they launched an attack on the person of the governor, we want to state categorically that at no time did the governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, promise to pay bursary to students of the state in tertiary institutions as the state's resources cannot cope with the burden.
"We, therefore, warn that the government knows the brains behind this move, including some who are supposed to mould the character of the students; they are under close watch by security agencies."
