Edo PDP, State Govt Disagree Over Anniversary

The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state government have traded tackles as the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of Governor Monday Okpebholo rolled out the drums on Wednesday to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the governor.

The PDP, while addressing a press conference on Thursday, described the one-year administration of Governor Okpebholo as a wasted year marked by “drift, decline and deceit.”

The PDP alleged that there has been an absolute collapse of governance and institutional order in the past year, adding that the state is currently facing economic stagnation and fiscal recklessness.

The chairman of the Edo State chapter of the PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, 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.”

Aziegbemi further alleged that the Okpebholo administration has destroyed EdoGIS, which, according to him, brought order and transparency to land administration.

“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.

“Under the former administration, 1,000 Certificates of Occupancy were signed monthly, while only 25 have been signed in 365 days of Okpebholo’s administration.

“Yesterday marked 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,” he said.

In a swift reaction, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the opposition’s stock in trade is lies and deceit, describing the PDP leadership in the state as a bunch of comedians.

“They are used to lies, deep in deceit, soaked in liquor and psychedelic in emanation. They are chief promoters of Obubuyaya style of politics, where they claimed to have turned Edo to El-Dorado, only to be exposed that they actually plundered the state.

“Responding to PDP is like watching a bunch of comedians looking for spectators. We are too busy to be distracted by the rantings of such a political party with dithering nomenclature.

“PDP has since become a party in extinction, enabled by some turncoat politicians riddled with over-bloated ego and great ignorance about positive governance. We are not pretenders like them or economic predators who pillaged Edo resources.

“We are delivering on our promises and making sure there is value for money. From flyover to road infrastructure, from School repairs to primary healthcare projects, Governor Okpebholo has turned Edo into a construction site, but the PDP, driven by propaganda, cannot rationalise good governance when they see one,” he said.