Edo Government, PDP Spat Over Alleged Neglect, Overseas Excursions

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state government have found themselves embroiled in intense altercations, ignited by the PDP’s assertions that Governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, have forsaken their duties in favor of international travels, lacking clear directives or handover protocols.

 

A widely circulated video depicted the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, convening with officials from the state Ministry of Health within his office at Government House.

 

In a statement endorsed by Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the State Caretaker Committee, the PDP declared, “This flagrant neglect of duty has plunged Edo into a perilous leadership void at a time when citizens are burdened by economic adversity, escalating insecurity, and stalled public services—direct repercussions of the incompetence of the APC-led administration at both federal and state levels.

 

“Even more alarming is the governor’s recent plea to the Edo State House of Assembly to ratify 28 commissioner-nominees—a number that would render this the most swollen Executive Council in the State’s history.

 

We are cognizant that the governor has already orchestrated plans to fritter away ₦4.2 billion of taxpayers’ funds on opulent SUVs for these commissioners, each priced at an exorbitant ₦150 million.

 

“This heedless expansion of government coincides with an increasing cadre of Special Advisers, board chairmen, members, and heads of parastatals—appointments that have propelled the cost of governance in Edo to unprecedented heights in our 34-year history.

 

“While other states are prioritizing workers’ welfare by augmenting the minimum wage in accordance with increased allocations from the Federation Account, the Okpebholo/Idahosa administration remains fixated on acquiring SUVs, ‘distributing funds,’ and settling political IOUs.

 

“This profligate spending spree is particularly offensive at a time when Edo hospitals are deteriorating, schools lack educators, roads have become perilous, and communities are left vulnerable to bandits and kidnappers. Reports abound of delayed payment of workers’ entitlements, forsaken development projects, and worsening insecurity—yet the governor and his deputy prefer incessant foreign excursions and reckless extravagance.

 

“Are Okpebholo and Idahosa oblivious to the plight of farmers in Uhunmwonde and Ovia North-East who have abandoned their lands due to assaults by armed gangs? Are they unaware that kidnappers continue to menace highways and communities throughout Edo, while markets in Benin and other cities are no longer safe, with merchants compelled to close early out of fear?

 

“We implore Governor Okpebholo and his deputy to promptly cease their reckless jaunts abroad and return home to address the pressing demands of governance—restoring security, rectifying schools and hospitals, compensating workers, repairing roads, and granting Edo citizens the dignity they deserve.”

 

In a rebuttal, the State Government, through a statement signed by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, categorized the PDP’s allegations as “a reckless, misleading, and poorly conceived press release issued by the factional Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

 

The statement asserted that the PDP’s accusations regarding Governor Okpebholo and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, neglecting their responsibilities and misusing state resources were not only unfounded but a desperate endeavor by a failed political party to regain prominence.

 

“For clarity, we assert unequivocally that the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, is currently in Edo State, diligently fulfilling his official duties. The insinuation that both the Governor and his Deputy have abandoned the State is a fabrication born of malice and deliberate falsehood. At no point has Edo been devoid of leadership.

 

“The PDP must be reminded that governance in Edo today is not driven by propaganda or conjecture; it is governed by systems, structures, and accountability.

 

“The attempt by the PDP to mislead the public on workers’ welfare is both laughable and embarrassing. Edo is presently among the top three States in Nigeria with the highest minimum wage, at ₦75,000. This stands as undeniable evidence of Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to workers’ welfare. The fact that the PDP would reference other States increasing wages without recognizing Edo’s existing leadership in this area underscores their ignorance and reveals how detached they have become from reality.

 

“The PDP also alleged that schools lack educators and hospitals are in decline. Let the record reflect: since assuming office less than a year ago, Governor Okpebholo has not dismissed a single teacher. If Edo schools lack adequate teaching personnel today, it is a damning self-indictment on the immediate past administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, under whose tenure no meaningful recruitment was conducted in the education sector for eight years.

 

“Similarly, if hospitals are in disrepair and roads are perilous, 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 decay originated.

 

“Unlike the PDP, Governor Okpebholo has undertaken concrete measures to rectify these failures. In just nine months, his administration has initiated the reconstruction of the iconic Oba Market in Benin City, which had languished in ruins for nearly a decade. He has launched extensive road rehabilitation projects across the three senatorial districts, including the Benin–Abraka Road, Benin–Sapele Road, among others.

 

“The Rahmat Park Flyover, currently under construction, will permanently alleviate traffic congestion in Benin. In the health sector, the Stella Obasanjo Hospital Complex is being upgraded into a world-class facility, while new investments are being made in primary healthcare across the state.

 

“The administration has also prioritized security. Governor Okpebholo’s decisive campaign against cultism, kidnapping, and violent crime has already begun to yield results, restoring peace in communities that were once terrorized by criminal gangs. These interventions are tangible, measurable, and widely acknowledged by the people of Edo State.

 

“On the matter of political appointments, the PDP’s attempt to portray inclusiveness as excess is another demonstration of bad faith. The current administration is constructing a government of capacity, competence, and representation across all senatorial districts. Governance requires expertise and balance; what the PDP brands as ‘bloated,’ Edo citizens recognize as strategic inclusion for effective service delivery.

 

“It is deeply regrettable that the PDP, a party severed from the lifeline of power after eight years of monumental failure, now resorts to cheap deceit and baseless propaganda to remain afloat.

 

“Rather than apologizing to Edo citizens for years of neglect, the PDP has chosen to embarrass itself with hollow claims that collapse under the weight of facts.

 

“Governor Okpebholo is less than a year in office, yet he has set in motion reforms and projects that are already redefining Edo’s developmental trajectory. Edo citizens are witnesses to this progress and will not be swayed by the PDP’s antics.

 

“We urge the public to disregard the falsehoods propagated by the PDP. Edo State is not rudderless. It is firmly on course under the purposeful leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa.

 

“The administration remains steadfast in its mission to deliver the dividends of democracy, restore Edo’s pride, and secure a prosperous future for all,” the government stated.