By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it described as unprecedented abdication of duty by Governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, who they claim have abandoned the State for foreign trips without any clear direction or handover arrangement.
The party in a statement on Thursday by its Caretaker Committee’s Publicity Secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare, noted that the “reckless dereliction of responsibility has plunged Edo into a dangerous leadership vacuum at a time when citizens are groaning under economic hardship, worsening insecurity, and stalled public services—direct consequences of the ineptitude of the APC-led administration at both the federal and state levels.”
The statement berated the Okpebholo-led government for requesting approval for 28 commissioner nominees and plans to squander ₦4.2 billion on SUVs for them.
It said: “Even more disturbing is the Governor’s recent request to the Edo State House of Assembly to confirm 28 commissioner-nominees—a figure that will make this the most bloated Executive Council in the history of the State.
“We are aware that the governor has already concluded plans to squander ₦4.2 billion of taxpayers’ money on luxury SUVs for these commissioners, each costing an outrageous ₦150 million.
“This reckless expansion of government comes on top of a growing army of Special Advisers, board chairmen, members, and heads of parastatals—appointments that have driven the cost of governance in Edo to an all-time high in our 34-year history.”
According to the PDP, “While other states are prioritising workers’ welfare by raising the minimum wage in line with increased allocations from the Federation Account, the Okpebholo/Idahosa administration is fixated on buying SUVs, sharing the money,” and settling political IOUs.
“This wasteful spending spree is especially offensive at a time when Edo hospitals are collapsing, schools lack teachers, roads have become death traps, and communities are left at the mercy of bandits and kidnappers. Reports abound of delayed payment of workers’ entitlements, abandoned development projects, and worsening insecurity—yet the governor and his deputy prefer endless foreign junkets and reckless extravagance.
“Are Okpebholo and Idahosa unaware that farmers in Uhunmwonde and Ovia North-East have abandoned their farmlands due to attacks by armed gangs? Do they not know that kidnappers continue to terrorise highways and communities across Edo, while markets in Benin and other cities are no longer safe, with traders forced to close early out of fear?” it asked historically.”
The PDP therefore urged Governor Okpebholo and his deputy “to end their reckless junketing abroad” forthwith and return home to confront the urgent task of governance—restoring security, fixing schools and hospitals, paying workers, repairing roads, and giving Edo people the dignity they deserve.
Responding to the allegations, Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, lambasted the PDP for not getting its information correctly.
Itua, in a statement titled “PDP goofs again”, described the party’s allegation as reckless, misleading, and poorly conceived, noting that the state deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, is in the state.
“For clarity, we state unequivocally that the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa is presently in Edo State, diligently discharging his official responsibilities.
“The insinuation that both the Governor and his Deputy abandoned the State is a product of mischief and deliberate falsehood. At no time has Edo been left without leadership.
“The PDP must be reminded that governance in Edo today is not run on propaganda or guesswork; it is run on systems, structures, and accountability,” Itua said.
The Governor’s spokesman further described PDP’s allegation that schools lack teachers and hospitals are in decline as self-indictment, noting that the present administration has not sacked any teacher since it took over from the last PDP government.
“Let the record reflect: since assuming office less than a year ago, Governor Okpebholo has not sacked a single teacher. If Edo schools lack adequate teaching personnel today, it is a damning self-indictment of the immediate past administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, under whose watch no meaningful recruitment was carried out in the education sector for eight years.
“Similarly, if hospitals are in a state of disrepair and roads are death traps, then the blame must rest squarely on the shoulders of the PDP-led government of Obaseki, which squandered eight years of opportunities to address these critical issues. Edo people are not deceived; they know where the rot came from,” he added.
Leave a Reply