Follow Us on Google
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Last Wednesday celebration of one year in office by the administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo in Edo State, has triggered war of words between the State Government and a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
The PDP faction led by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, at press conference on Thursday, described the event as a wasted year marked by drift, decline, and deceit, alleging that there has been an absolute collapse of governance and institutional order in the past year and that the state is currently facing economic stagnation and fiscal recklessness.
“While other states are consolidating reforms, driving innovation, and expanding growth, Edo has tragically returned to the pre-Obaseki era, an age defined by ignorance, propaganda, and prebendal politics”, Aziegbemi said.
He further alleged that Okpebholo’s administration has destroyed EdoGIS, which brought order and transparency to land administration during Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
“For almost a year, no Certificates of Occupancy have been signed, leaving investors stranded and property owners trapped. This failure has crippled private investment and reignited land disputes across the state.
Under the former administration, 1,000 Certificates of Occupancy were signed monthly, while only 25 have been signed in 365 days of Okpebholo’s administration,” he said.
Besides, Aziegbemi claimed that the state was awarding contracts without Tenders Board and due process and the administration was yet to initiate any capital project apart from “an ill-thought-out flyover”, just as he lamented alleged poor state infrastructure, education and health, saying the controversy surrounding MOWAA (Museum of West African Art), was “totally uncalled for,” as ex-Governor Obaseki had the interest of Edo people at heart when he conceptualized the project.
But in a reaction yesterday, the Edo State Government expressed worry over what it called a “troubling pattern of misinformation being circulated by certain political actors whose aim is to mislead the public and distort the achievements of the current administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo”, stating that recent comments credited to the Edo State factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Aziegbemi, fall squarely within this trend of deliberate misrepresentation”.
The Government in a statement signed by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, said Aziegbemi’s statements, marked by clear gaps in understanding and basic administrative procedure, demand a factual clarification for the sake of Edo people.
“It is unfortunate that Mr. Aziegbemi, rather than engage constructively, has chosen to peddle inaccuracies about the structure and operations of the present government. His comments on the Tender Board, in particular, reveal a profound ignorance of procurement laws and administrative hierarchy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Tender Board is a statutory body with clearly defined roles under Nigerian procurement regulations. It does not operate on the whims of political parties, nor is it subject to the emotional interpretations of party chairmen unfamiliar with governance procedures.
“The insinuation that its operations under this administration are irregular is not only false but exposes the chairman’s unfamiliarity with due process and the limits of his own knowledge. For his education, every Ministry in Edo State has its own statutory Tenders Board composed of the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, and Directors, all legally empowered to evaluate and approve contracts within their designated limits.
Other News
“Beyond this, the apex Tenders Board of the State is the Executive Council – made up of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, and all Commissioners – which handles approvals that exceed ministerial thresholds. This is not new, ambiguous, or controversial; it is what is obtainable across the country.
“This attempt to manufacture controversy mirrors the broader strategy deployed by figures intent on defending the failures of the immediate-past administration, even when the facts are glaring.
“Edo people have not forgotten how a century-old, centrally located public health facility, the iconic Central Hospital, was demolished under the previous government. That hospital served generations and stood as a symbol of accessible public healthcare. Yet it was willfully replaced with a private entity disguised as a cultural project, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).
“It remains one of the clearest examples of governance gone wrong, where a public institution was sacrificed for a venture with no direct relevance to the healthcare needs of the people. Good governance prioritizes citizens, not private legacies or commercial monuments built on public land.
“Mr. Aziegbemi’s recent attempt to parade a list of so-called legacy achievements—including unverifiable claims such as an “Agricultural Hub,” the “Tayo Akpata Education Hub,” and the provision of “free WiFi at strategic locations”-only underscores the superficial nature of the former administration’s governance.
“These were projects heavy on slogans but light on substance. None provided measurable improvements to the lives of Edo people. Internet hotspots-sporadic and poorly maintained-never translated to economic empowerment or food security for the struggling households across the State. These claims represent the same pattern of inflated rhetoric and empty ceremony that characterized the previous era.
“Edo people know better and are fully aware of how propaganda was elevated above genuine development. The former administration perfected the art of public deception, offering glossy press briefings to mask a governance model that had little regard for transparency, accountability, or sustainable impact. Those who benefited from that era may attempt to rewrite history, but facts remain stubborn things.
“Under Governor Monday Okpebholo, Edo State is undergoing a new phase marked by sincerity of purpose, fiscal discipline, and people-focused development. Our approach is simple: real projects, real impact, real accountability.
“Roads are being fixed. Healthcare infrastructure is being strengthened-not demolished. Education is receiving meaningful investment. Civil servants are respected, not humiliated. And unlike the previous leadership, this administration is not turning public institutions into private experiments or erecting monuments irrelevant to the daily realities of citizens.
“The Government remains committed to truth, transparency, and measurable development outcomes. Edo people deserve leadership anchored on substance, not propaganda. No amount of revisionist commentary-whether from party chairmen unfamiliar with administrative processes or from individuals nostalgic for a failed era-can derail the ongoing transformation”, the Government assured.
