Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has given the green light for the return of schools to missionary organisations, reversing a policy that dates back to the 1970s.

The development was confirmed after a meeting between the governor and Bishop Gabriel G. Dunia of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi on Monday at the Government House in Benin City.

In a statement released by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Okpebholo noted that a committee would be constituted to determine which schools would be handed over.

He added that schools currently undergoing government-led renovations would remain under state management until those projects are completed.

Schools likely to be affected by the handover include several long-standing Catholic institutions such as Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi; St. Angela’s Grammar School, Uzairue; St. John Grammar School, Fugar; St. Peter’s Grammar School, Agenebode; St. James’s Grammar School, Afuze; St. Joseph College, Otuo; St. Mary Grammar School, Eme-Ora; and St. Aloysius Gonzaga Grammar School, Ososo.

These institutions were among those taken over by the civil government in the 1970s during a national wave of educational reform.

Bishop Dunia, speaking on the significance of the decision, said the Church had made repeated appeals to past governments without success until Governor Okpebholo’s administration.

He stressed the broader purpose of the schools within the Church’s mission.

“Ideal moral character, which constitutes the bedrock of a good society,” he said, is as important as intellectual development.

He added that the Church viewed the schools as essential tools for shaping not only minds but values.

Former Senate President, David Mark, has raised alarm over the growing insecurity in Benue State, warning that continued killings could push residents to take the law into their own hands in a bid for self-preservation.

In a statement released on Monday through his media aide, Paul Mumeh, Mark condemned the unrelenting attacks on Benue communities, describing the situation as “tragic and senseless.”

“This is the sad reality confronting our people. If nothing is done, they may be forced to take their safety into their own hands,” he said, warning that the state’s deteriorating security could soon leave citizens with no choice but self-defense.

Mark criticized the government’s perceived failure to protect lives and property, saying such inaction was eroding public trust.
“When the government fails in this duty, it betrays the trust of the people,” he stated.

He called on the federal authorities to take immediate steps to halt the violence and restore peace to the region, stressing the urgency of the matter.

He also appealed to the Benue State government to strengthen internal security mechanisms and reclaim stability in affected areas.

Mark further encouraged traditional rulers, community heads, and residents to cooperate with security agencies and maintain vigilance.

“This is not the time for silence. Communities must stand firm and support all genuine efforts to end this crisis,” he urged.

While expressing deep sympathy for the victims and their families, Mark cautioned citizens against taking unlawful actions, calling instead for unity and resilience.

“Our people have suffered enough. But even in pain, we must not resort to lawlessness. Let us show resilience, support one another, and resist fear,” he said.

A pro-PDP advocacy group, Bala Agents’ Mandate, has urged former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rally behind Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State to build a stronger, more unified opposition.

Speaking during a press conference held in Port Harcourt on Monday, the State Coordinator of the group, Amadi Chijioke, warned against the formation of a new opposition coalition.

He argued that such moves could derail efforts to restore democratic governance in Nigeria.

“I strongly believe in the leadership of Bala Mohammed to lead the PDP to glory. I don’t think there is any need to bring Atiku Abubakar and others together to form a new coalition. I believe they should come back home, PDP is home.

“The likes of Peter Obi, the likes of Chibuike Amaechi, I am expecting these men to return and join Bala Mohammed in rebuilding the PDP, because right now, he is appearing alone in the system,” Chijioke said.

The National Coordinator of the group, Habib Musa, also lent his voice to the appeal, praising the Bala Mohammed-led PDP Governors’ Forum for its resilience and cohesion in the face of rising political instability.

According to him, the Forum has become the most dependable pillar keeping the PDP intact and remains a symbol of “unity and accountability.”

Reacting to the recent defections of the Delta and Akwa Ibom State governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Musa criticized the move, describing it as politically opportunistic rather than principled.

“The defection of two governors from our party has been touted as a significant blow. But let us be clear: these defections were not driven by ideology or principle, but by fear and opportunism,” he stated.

“We assure the good people of those states that the PDP remains a formidable force, and we will soon reclaim the governments of those states through the ballot box.”

He also condemned what he described as the suppression of democratic institutions in Rivers State and attempts to shut down the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, blaming the federal government for allegedly using state machinery to silence opposition voices.

In a pointed message to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Musa urged him to reconcile with Governor Bala Mohammed and contribute to the unity and rebuilding of the PDP, despite his current affiliation with the APC-led federal government.

As the nation marked 26 years of democratic rule, a member of the group, identified as Ibrahim, stressed the urgent need for a renewed commitment to democratic values and governance based on accountability.