Benin City, November 26, 2024 — The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grave concerns over the actions and policies of the newly inaugurated All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, accusing Governor-Select Monday Okpebholo of lawlessness, mismanagement, and a lack of adherence to constitutional and governance standards.
Addressing the press, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, decried what he described as troubling developments in Edo State just 14 days after Okpebholo’s inauguration. The PDP claimed the administration’s actions threaten peace, progress, and democracy in the state.
Attacks on Opposition and Governance Issues
Dr. Aziegbemi alleged that APC-led thugs, under the directive of party leaders, attacked the PDP secretariat in Benin City, destroying property worth millions of naira. He also accused “government vehicle recovery agents” of breaking into the private residence of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, harassing security personnel and causing chaos.
Furthermore, the PDP criticized Governor Okpebholo and his deputy, Denis Idahosa, for not resigning from their positions in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, as required by the 1999 Constitution. Aziegbemi argued that their refusal denies their constituencies proper representation in the National Assembly.
Procurement Irregularities
The PDP also raised questions about the procurement processes of the Okpebholo administration. They alleged that over ₦5 billion worth of vehicles had been procured without adherence to the state’s procurement laws and criticized the rushed approval of an overhead bridge project at Ramat Park, claiming it bypassed all standard procedures.
“Edo State’s procurement law is under threat,” Aziegbemi warned, accusing the governor of dismantling governance structures inherited from past administrations.
Sackings and Unpaid Salaries
The PDP condemned the alleged dismissal of civil and public servants, labeling the action insensitive amidst widespread economic hardship. Despite an inherited ₦30 billion surplus in state coffers, the PDP claimed November salaries remain unpaid, breaking an eight-year tradition of salary payments on or before the 25th of the month.
Attack on Education Reforms
Aziegbemi also criticized Okpebholo for his comments on the EdoBEST program, an education reform initiative widely praised across Africa. The PDP urged the governor to focus on governance rather than discrediting past achievements.
Call to Action
The PDP called on Edo citizens, civil society organizations, and stakeholders to monitor the Okpebholo administration closely to prevent further instability.
“Governance is beyond stealing the people’s mandate,” Aziegbemi declared, warning that the current trajectory of the administration could lead to chaos and undermine the state’s hard-earned democratic progress.
Conclusion
The PDP reiterated its commitment to reclaiming the mandate it believes was “duly given” to its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, during the September 21 gubernatorial election. They called for investigations into the alleged irregularities and urged Governor Okpebholo to respect constitutional principles and focus on delivering meaningful governance to Edo people.
Read Press Statement Below
26 November, 2024
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
Edo state was created over 33 years ago. Before then, we were part of the Western region, then after a plebiscite Mid-West region, Midwest state then Bendel. We were governed by military and also some of the best brains and administrators as democratically elected governors. They built and developed the civil and public service structure and its processes and procedures. They built our government! Every successive government added value to what it met and introduced some innovation to increase transparency and improve efficiency and effectiveness.
In the last 8 years, Edo witnessed unprecedented developments, across all sectors and a government that was the envy of other states was birthed.
It has become imperative to call this press conference to draw the attention of the public and other stakeholders to the very troubling and disturbing developments in Edo State under the All Progressives Congress-led administration, which, if not appropriately addressed, could spell doom for our democracy and serve as a recipe for anarchy and instability, thereby threatening the peace, progress and security of our dear State.
It is most unfortunate and disappointing that in just 14 days in office, the governor-select, Monday Okpebholo, through his actions and inactions, have succeeded in setting a dangerous tone for crisis and breach of public peace, and we are worried that this troubling precedent may just be an ignition for a conflagration that may well be avoided.
Just last week, the APC mobilized thugs to attack the PDP Secretariat on Airport Road, in Benin City, in their desperation to intimidate and frustrate our efforts at reclaiming the mandate duly given to our party and its candidate Asue Ighodalo at the September 21 governorship election.
The barbaric and unprovoked attack on the PDP Secretariat was said to be led by Kapuepue Adun, who invaded the premises, destroying properties worth millions of naira and carting away other valuable items and election documents.
In the same manner, thugs under the payroll of the Governor-Select Okpebholo as “government vehicle recovery agents” led by Kelly Okungbowa, a chieftain of the APC in the State, broke into the private residence of the immediate past Governor of the State HE Godwin Obaseki in Gestapo style, assaulting and harassing security personnel at the premises. This is most reprehensible and unacceptable and we urge relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate these barbaric attacks and ensure that the perpetrators of this lawless and dastardly acts are brought to book.
We condemn this act in strongest terms.
We are not surprised at these acts of lawlessness as it in their party DNA.
Two weeks after their inauguration on November 12, the governor-select, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Denis Idahosa, have failed to officially resign from their respective seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives, denying their constituencies of representation at the National Assembly in line with section 68(1)d of the 1999 Constitution as amended, “A member of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if he becomes President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor or a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of the Government of a State or a Special Adviser”. How can they simultaneously hold the positions of Governor and Senator, as well as Deputy Governor and Member of the House of Representatives? It is only right and constitutional that they should resign their membership, allowing their seats to be declared vacant and paving the way for a by-election. But again, APC thrives on illegality and lawlessness, and has continued to thread on the infamous path, while making a mockery of their constituents.
We are also aware that the ‘emergency’ overhead bridge flagged off by the Okpebholo-led government at Ramat Park, Benin City, bypassed all standard procurement procedures.
The flyover is nothing but a white elephant project to reward godfathers for their role in subverting the will of Edo people at the just concluded gubernatorial election, and we demand that the government makes public the procurement procedure for this project, stating the cost of the project and timeline, how the contractors were selected and whether the process complied with the State’s Public Procurement Act, among other details relating to the project. We are aware that the Governor-Select is dismantling all the levers of government and governance that he inherited and so we are not surprised that he considers the states procurement act an hindrance that must be dismantled. Governor-select Okpebholo has Procured over N5bn worth of vehicles without proper procurement process which has created a crisis to the extent that PS Governor’s office is threaten civil servants in Central administration for refusing to accept vehicles due to improper documentation, while desperately Looking for ways to pass entries for over N2bn of inauguration costs. The Edo state procurement act is at risk and we must all speak up!
As if their shenanigans weren’t enough, they have continued the callous and reckless sack of civil and public servants in the State, inflicting more hardship and suffering on the dismissed workers and their families, who are already grappling with an economy made unbearable by the gross mismanagement of the national economy by the APC government at the centre. This shows the level of the government’s insensitivity to the plight of the people and a troubling sign of what may lie ahead under the new administration.
For 8 years the PDP led administration paid salaries on or before the 25th of every month and as at today, they have not been able to pay November salary despite the fact the that the Obaseki led PDP administration left over N30Bn in the state coffers.
Most laughable however was Okpebholo’s recent visit to a school where he desperately attempted to disparage the EdoBEST programme, which was widely acclaimed as one of the most impactful basic education reforms in Africa.
Okpebholo must be reminded that governance and administration go beyond stealing the people’s mandate. While his short-lived tenure lasts until the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reclaims the mandate duly given to it by Edo voters, he remains the governor-select and must stop indicting himself. From the moment he took the oath of office, the responsibility is his alone; he has no one else to blame or complain to.
The PDP government has done its best and successfully worked on over 340 schools from the many others across the three senatorial districts. The ball is now in his court to do his part, just as the PDP government did. He should stop complaining and focus on delivering results for the people, if he really has anything to offer the people. The composition of the SUBEB Board is in total disregard to the provisions of the SUBEB Act. It confirmed our fears that APC and Okpebholo are only interested in the possibility of award and execution of contracts by SUBEB and not the FORMULATION, REGULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATION POLICY.
We however call on all Edo people, civil society organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to beam their attention on this administration so as to prevent a descent into avoidable , with dire consequences on the peace and security of our State.
Dr. Tony Aziegbemi,
Chairman, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee
