PDP, Edo Government Trade Words Over Okpebholo’s Performance At First Anniversary

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, headed by Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the governor marked his first anniversary in the state on Wednesday.

The PDP, at a press conference on Thursday, described the administration of Governor Okpebholo in the last year as a wasted one, marked by drift, decline, and deceit.

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

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 Okpebholo’s 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,” he said.

Continuing, he said, “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.”

In swift reaction to the PDP’s criticism, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, described the PDP leadership in the state as a bunch of comedians.

Afegua said, “They are used to lies, deep in deceit, soaked in liquor, and psychedelic in emanation. They are chief promoters of the Obubuyaya style of politics, where they claimed to have turned Edo into El Dorado, only to be exposed as having 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 crass ignorance about positive governance. We are not pretenders like them or economic predators who pillaged Edo resources like famished baboons let loose into a banana plantation.

“We are delivering on our promises and making sure there is value for money. From flyover to road infrastructure, from school repairs to primary health care projects, Governor Okpebholo has turned Edo into a construction site, but those PDP and their coupon clippers, who are used to Obubuyaya-type projects, driven by propaganda, cannot rationalise good governance when they see one”.