The Edo State People’s Democratic Party, PDP has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress Administration in the State led by Senator Monday Okpebholo in its Ine year anniversary remarks on the leadership of Okpebholo.
In a press statement signed by Dr.Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman, Edo State PDP on November 13, 2025, the Edo PDP said, 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.
The statement said Okpebholo’s one year in office has left Edo State Economically Stagnant and Fiscally Reckless! Aziegnemhi said no single new capital project has been initiated, apart from ill thought-out flyovers, contracts awarded just to siphon money while existing projects have been abandoned. The statement said further that Local governments owe salaries; pensioners and contractors remain unpaid. Investor confidence has collapsed, and Edo’s economic rating has nosedived. While for 10 months in 2024, Gov. Obaseki received 154 Billion, Gov. Okpebholo received 236 Billion.
Find the full press statement below:
November 13, 2025
ONE YEAR OF DRIFT, DECLINE AND DECEIT
Edo Marks a Lost Year Under Accidental Leadership
Benin City, Nigeria
Yesterday marks one full year since Edo State was handed over to accidental leadership, and the verdict is clear: it has been a year of wasted opportunity, policy paralysis, and institutional regression.
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.
Collapse of Governance and Institutional Order
For months, the state had no functioning cabinet. When finally constituted, it became an overbloated team of recycled aides without vision or coherence. Due process has completely eroded — contracts are awarded in secrecy, as there is no tenders board merit has been discarded, and the government now operates like a personal fiefdom, driven by emotion, not policy.
Economic Stagnation and Fiscal Recklessness
No single new capital project has been initiated, apart from ill thought-out flyovers, contracts awarded just to siphon money Existing ones have been abandoned. Local governments owe salaries; pensioners and contractors remain unpaid. Investor confidence has collapsed, and Edo’s economic rating has nosedived. While for 10 months in 2024, Gov. Obaseki received 154 Billion, Gov. Okpebholo received 236 Billion.
Destruction of EdoGIS and Land Administration
The destruction of EdoGIS, a flagship reform that brought order and transparency to land administration, epitomizes this regression. 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. A 1000 C-OF-Os were signed monthly under the former administration while only 25 have been signed in 365 days of Okpebholo’s Administration
Infrastructure and Urban Decay
Benin City is sinking under filth. Streetlights are dead, roads are collapsing, the once-structured Infrastructure has been abandoned for photo-ops and political ceremonies.
Education and Human Capital Decline
The celebrated EdoBEST education model has been gutted. Teachers are untrained, schools are deteriorating, and digital learning has vanished. Scholarship programmes have been scrapped, and universities now suffer political interference that undermines autonomy and quality. For example, the college of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iguoriakhi has been abandoned by this clueless government. You are invited to take a tour of this facility.
Health, Social Services, and Local Government Breakdown
Primary health centres are starved of funding; Specialist Hospitals are struggling.
Local governments are administratively comatose — elected Chairmen sacked and replaced by loyal placeholders, while revenues are cornered at Government House. Edo State Health Insurance scheme has been abandoned by this government, Stella Obasanjo’s hospital been abandoned, the 3-dialysis equipment in Edo Specialist Hospital has been abandoned.
Citizens now endure the weight of an absentee government.
Governance by Propaganda and Division
The only vibrant department in this government is propaganda. Rather than build, they spend taxpayers’ money attacking perceived enemies — Obaseki, the PDP, journalists, and civic voices.
We challenge the Okpebholo media team to name five verifiable achievements in one year. They cannot.
Visionless Leadership and Return of Godfatherism
The 2025 budget was a copy-and-paste document, without review or direction.
Policy-making has degenerated into ceremonial photo-ops and church visits. Meanwhile, Edo has been recaptured by external handlers, reversing the people’s victory over godfatherism.
This is not democracy — it is political recolonisation.
The PDP Alternative
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) remains Edo’s only organised, policy-driven, and people-centred platform. We are committed to continuity of reforms, digital governance, security coordination, and inclusive development. We call on all Edo citizens, civil society, and the media to join hands in restoring direction, dignity, and development to governance.
On MOWAA
The PDP strongly believes that this controversy is totally uncalled for. Gov. Obaseki had the good of the greater number of EDOLITES in mind when he conceptualized MOWAA. There are 136 museums in Paris with 105 square kilometers landmass and Benin with 1,204 square kilometers landmass should be having at least 500 museums. We should not be struggling over one museum.
New York has 1,223 square kilometers landmass with 170 Museums
London has 1,572 square kilometers landmass with 250 museums
Museums are not profit-making ventures. It is the value added from tourists visiting and spending monies on hotels, transport and gifts that the state benefits from increased revenues
At the heart of MOWAA is the realization of the Gov. Obaseki Administration that culture is a Veritable Tool of diversifying the economy to enhance job creation for our youth, increased revenues and security of the citizens. It was about the people of Edo State.
Closing Statement
“In one year, Monday Okpebholo has taken Edo from the age of progress back to the age of confusion. But Edo people are awake, and history will not forgive this season of waste.”
While Godwin Obaseki can point to tangible and most importantly intangible assets that he invested in:
1. Greenhill Ethanol Plant, in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha LGA
2. 800-tonne-per day Dufil Ethanol Plant in Ovia North East
3. Azura 450MW Power Plant in Uhunmwonde
4. 95MW Ossiomo Power Plant in Ologbo
5. 6000bpd Edo Modular Refinery in Ikpoba-Okha
6. 2500bpd Duport Modular Refinery in Orhionmwon
7. Revamped the Edo State Chemical and Fertilizer Company Limited, in Auchi, for the production of fertilizers
8. Developed over 70,000 hectares of oil palm estates, for production of raw materials for industries within and outside Edo State under the Edo State Oil Palm (ESOP) programme
9. Museum of West African Art (MOWAA)
10. Laid 1,200km of fibre optic internet connectivity across the 18 local government areas of the State.
11. Modern Secretariat complex
12. John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA)
13. Over 11,300 teachers have been trained to deliver tech-based teaching in schools, which was implemented in 918 public schools and benefitted over 300,000 schools, under the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme.
14. Revamped the Government Science and Technical College (formerly Benin Technical College).
15. Provided free WiFi in strategic locations in metropolitan Benin.
16. Built the Edo Tech Park, through which over 15,000 software engineers were trained in the State.
17. Established the Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs), which provided direct and indirect job opportunities for over 300,000 persons in the state.
18. Established 10 Job Centres across the three senatorial districts in the state.
19. Built the Daisy Danjuma Women Centre through which over 5,000 victims of irregular migration and human trafficking were reintegrated into the society.
20. Newly established the Edo State Sex Offenders Register and the Centre for Gender Based Violence.
21. Remodeled and fully equipped Edo State College of Education, Abudu.
22. Remodeled and fully equipped the Edo State College of Agricultural Science.
23. Remodeled and fully equipped the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences,
24. Remodeled and fully equipped the Edo State College of Health Sciences.
25. Built and refurbished VER 200 Primary Healthcare Centres across the State.
26. Built and equipped the Edo Printing Press.
27. Rebuilt the Nigerian Observer Office Building Complex.
28. Built the Agricultural Hub.
29. Built the Tayo Akpata Education Hub in Iyaro.
30. Benin City Mall (Shoprite), Sapele Road,Oredo LGA
Compare these and many other achievements of the Godwin Obaseki’s administration with Okpebholo’s 365 days in office:
1. Award of flyovers just to siphon funds
2. Attending an economic summit Glasgow Scotland without a dime coming into the state
3. Ordering commissioners to wear occultic caps or else be sent out of council meeting
Signed
Dr. Tony Aziegbemi
Chairman,
Edo State PDP.
