Okpebholo has silenced skeptics with development projects –Afegbua

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua has declared that against expectations of critics, Governor Monday Okpebholo has silenced sceptics with far-reaching development projects in the state.

Afegbua, who stated this yesterday in a statement, said the questions today in Edo State had shifted from capacity to curiosity on how the governor is funding capital projects across the three senatorial districts of the state, ranging from school construction and rehabilitation to water supply, security infrastructure and agricultural support.

He disclosed that under the previous administration, EdoBEST consultants received N160 million monthly, at a time many schools deteriorated.

In contrast, he said Okpebholo had increased subventions to key tertiary institutions in the state.

He  disclosed that Ambrose Alli University that was previously receiving N41 million, now gets N500 million monthly, while Edo University, Uzairue, which received no state allocation before, now receives N250 million monthly.

“Initially underrated during the election period, the Governor is now receiving commendation for what officials call a humble, accountable and promise-driven style of leadership.

“Public discourse across Edo has shifted from questions about his capacity to curiosity about how he is funding the scale of infrastructural work currently ongoing.

“While opposition figures have criticised aspects of the administration’s agenda, the government maintains that the results on ground speak for themselves.

“They may complain for relevance, but they cannot fault the quality or scale of the projects,” Afegbua stated.

He also spoke on healthcare and said the state had completed 60 new primary health care centres (PHCs) across the three senatorial districts, as part of the 146 planned.

“We are not only building PHCs, we are also equipping them to function effectively,” he noted.