By Jethro Ibileke
A revelation by the youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Tony Kabaka Adun, has set tongues wagging on the social media space.
Adun had, during the Democracy Day celebration on Thursday, June 12, 2025, exposed a secret promise made to him by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to rebuild his hotel that the government of former Governor Godwin Obaseki demolished.
TheNEWS recalls that the multi-million naira facility, T. Latifah Hotel and Suites, located at the Ugbor axis of GRA, in Benin, was demolished on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
The Government had, in October 2019, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, issued a seven-day notice to the APC youth leader to remove the hotel for allegedly being built on a parcel of land belonging to a public primary school.
Not satisfied, Mr. Adun approached the State High Court, presided over by Justice Daniel Okungbowa, in the suit marked B/151/05/2019 in October 2019.
Mr. Okungbowa, who is now the Chief Judge of the State, granted an ex parte order restraining the Godwin Obaseki-led government and its agents from demolishing the hotel.
The government, however, went ahead and demolished the property.
But, five years after the demolition was carried out, the State APC youth leader, on June 12, announced that incumbent Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has promised to rebuild his hotel at the government’s expense.
Adun, while addressing a gathering at the Government House, stunned his listeners, including Governor Okpebholo, when he announced that the Governor and his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, had promised to rebuild the hotel for him.
In a viral video on several social media platforms and on his personal Facebook page, the APC youth leader described the Governor’s secret promise as his democracy day gift.
He said, “Your Excellency, I want to thank you for your promise. I want to tell you all what makes my democracy day today.
“What makes my democracy day today is that His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon Dennis Idahosa have promised Kabaka that they will rebuild my hotel this morning.
“May God bless you all as you join me to celebrate my past lost hotel,” he said.
Embarrassed as a result of the revelation of the secret promise made to the hotel owner, now divulged to the public, Governor Okpebholo, who was sitting on the high table, was seen in the video shaking and bowing his head.
Reacting to the alleged promise to rebuild Adun’s hotel with public funds, a social media influencer, Albert Osazee, reminded the Governor that the hotel was erected on the State government’s landed property during the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration.
He also reminded the Governor that “Tony Kabaka blocked an existing road to build a swimming pool for the hotel.
“After building the hotel, he discovered that there was no swimming pool in it, and that was why he blocked the road to construct the swimming pool.
“So, let us see how Governor Monday Okpebholo will block the road again that had since been reopened by the former Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to rebuild the hotel.
“I pity Governor Okpebholo because what was supposed to be private and secret discussions and promises, the APC youth leader has publicly exposed them.
“Edo people, let us be vigilant and see how the governor will use the taxpayers’ money to rebuild a hotel for the APC youth leader on government land and a public road,” Osazee stated.
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