PDP Lied…Edo Govt got N10.4B IGR in January – Ohonbamu

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo state has been exposed as a  serial liar in a state of lies address claiming that Edo state is struggling with barely N3 billion instead of N10.4 billion as internally generated revenue in January

The Chairman of the PDP, Tony Aziegbeme in a statement titled, Edo PDP state of the state address, lied that the state has continued to experience massive decline in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) under the Okpebholo administration.

According to Hon Paul Ohonbamu in a swift response noted that, “For the information of the general public, Edo State got N10.4b and not N3.4b. It is therefore misinformation of the facts by the PDP to discredit the good works of Governor Monday Okpebholo in all the allegations made against the administration.

He condemned the claim that the activities of non-state actors who have been employed by Okpebholo led to the drastic fall in the State’s internally generated revenue, saying that the government is very focused on improving on the internally generated revenue in the state and all figures issued by the PDP are all lies.

“From the state of lies address it is very clear to Edo people that the PDP only thrives in lies. All the allegations are unfounded, without any truth, therefore should not be taken seriously.

Interestingly, all the allegations that were made are all what Governor Okpebholo has been working on and he is finding lasting solutions to the challenges for the benefit of Edo people.

As a governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo believes that constructive criticism is inevitable, but the PDP has resorted to media propaganda and blackmail sponsored by Former Governor Godwin Obaseki. The paid hirelings are churning out lies and they want the government to perform miracles in three months, what they could not do in eight years                                                                                                                     

The state government is working to diversify the economy and attract new businesses to the state and the governor has assured Edo people that his administration is committed to transparency and accountability.

For the information of the PDP, Governor Okpebholo is committed to serving the state and he is looking forward to address the challenges and putting right all the wrongs of the PDP

However, the lies by the PDP in their  State of the State address has exposed their  desperate bid to hang on to  power by all means, even when it is obvious that Edo  people are fed up with the PDP  government that lacked empathy for the people and thrives in deceit                            

The Chairman of the PDP and other members should not forget that Good leadership is characterized by a combination of vision, empathy and strategic decision making, which inspires and motivates individuals to work towards a common goal and for eight years, that was what the people lacked in Edo State.

Today, they are ranting about people going through distress and chaos, when in actual fact, Edo state witnessed the worst reign of chaos, insecurity and corruption during the Obaseki led administration.

The Governor Monday Okpebholo led administration on the other hand has implemented several measures to improve safety of lives and property, providing the necessary tools to work, such as new vehicles and motor cycles for the security agencies and he would not be distracted by series of lies in the state of the state address

It should be noted that after the PDP lost the governorship election, they destroyed all the cameras and vandalized the surveillance equipment.

They also damaged the command and control center when they were looting things in the government house, including vehicles and other valuables.

They are now asking for what they destroyed themselves. That is logical summersault.

On the issue of revenue, it should be noted that it is the government of Monday Okpebholo that has taken the state’s revenue to double digit. Obaseki’s government was in the region of 6 billion naira and the highest they got was in February 2024 when they realized 7.8 billion naira. But in January 2025 Okpebholo raised the revenue to 10.4 billion naira.

Yet they talk of the involvement of non-state actors. It should be noted that the 500 million naira monthly subvention to AAU started in November 2024.

That same month the Governor announced it the money was released. This shows fidelity to promise that Obaseki lacked.

Edo people are aware that PDP orchestrated criminal activities in the state by their action of giving guns to people in the name of security network and refused to pay them salaries.

There was proliferation of arms in the state and the net effect was increased crimes.

The PDP is only engaged in self unawareness by denying themselves in the mirror.

It is obvious that what Aziegbeme tried to achieve with this state of the state address is to assure the remnants of the members that the political party is still alive, while in fact, PDP is dead.