The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the dismissal of the Special Adviser on Youth Mobilisation following the mishandling of recent student-led protests that spiralled into a public relations setback for the state government.
Government sources confirmed that the decision was driven by concerns over poor crisis management, weak stakeholder engagement, and the misrepresentation of facts surrounding the protests, which involved students from tertiary institutions within and around Ekpoma/ Benin City.
What began as a legitimate expression of grievances by students quickly escalated due to inadequate engagement channels and conflicting narratives attributed to the youth mobilisation office.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the SA failed to anticipate the protests, misread the mood of the students, and did not provide accurate, timely briefings to government principals.
This vacuum allowed speculation, exaggeration, and misinformation to dominate public discourse, portraying the Edo State Government as insensitive and disconnected from youth concerns.
More damaging was the perception that the administration attempted to downplay or mischaracterise the protests, a move that analysts say eroded public trust and invited unnecessary national attention.
The situation was compounded by social media amplification, where poorly framed responses were interpreted as dismissive, further inflaming tensions.
By relieving the SA of his duties, the governor signalled a clear message of accountability and a renewed commitment to proactive youth engagement.
Sources indicate that the government is reviewing its youth-relations architecture, with plans to prioritise dialogue, early-warning mechanisms, and professional perception management in handling student and youth-related issues.
Political observers view the move as corrective rather than punitive—an effort to contain reputational damage and reset the administration’s relationship with Edo’s youth population.
The Okpebholo administration is expected to announce new engagement frameworks in the coming weeks to prevent a recurrence of such lapses.
The episode underscores a broader lesson for subnational governments: in an era of heightened youth activism and instant digital amplification, poor handling of student protests is no longer a minor administrative failure but a governance risk with lasting political consequences.
Dr. Fraser. MFR
Headlinenews.news Special report.
