…Says ‘Godfathers now run Govt in Edo’
…Says party stands solidly, unequivocally and unapologetically with Ex-Governor Obaseki
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to control members of his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state over increasingly reckless campaign of calumny, provocation, distortion and hostility being orchestrated by the state government under Senator Monday Okpebholo and his cohort of overbearing party godfathers.
This was stated in a press statement issued and signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, DAN Osa-Ogbegie, Esq. and made available journalists in Benin, the state capital.
The party stated that for months, the APC-led administration has deliberately sought to bait, distract and tarnish former Governor Godwin Obaseki, a leader who served Edo State with transparency, prudence, institutional reform and clarity of purpose. This lingering resentment stems from Obaseki’s principled refusal to surrender Edo’s resources to private pockets – a tradition entrenched under their former leader, Adams Oshiomhole, but courageously halted by Obaseki.
According to PDP, “Instead of governing responsibly, the Okpebholo administration has spent its early months dismantling, undermining or frustrating the legacy projects and institutional gains of the Obaseki era. Edo people have watched, with disbelief, as the following acts of sabotage have unfolded:
“1. Attacks on Saro Farms in Orhionmwon and Ovia: The hostility, disruptions and reported destruction of Saro Farms – one of the largest agricultural investments attracted under Obaseki – constitute a devastating blow to investor confidence. The pattern of intimidation suggests a coordinated action believed to be sponsored by elements in the Edo State Government and their APC backers. It is a direct assault on the agricultural revolution Obaseki championed.
“2. Suspension and Discrediting of the Benin Enterprise Park: This landmark industrialisation project, conceptualised and advanced under Obaseki, was mindlessly suspended and publicly disparaged for no reason other than APC’s inability to tolerate any developmental legacy tied to him.
“3. Hostility to the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA): Rather than sustain Edo’s rising global cultural profile, the government encouraged toxic narratives and reckless actions culminating in the disgraceful security collapse that allowed hoodlums to invade a facility hosting foreign diplomats. This was a calculated attempt to stain Obaseki’s globally celebrated cultural reforms.
“4. Reversal of EdoGIS and Digital Land Reforms: The digital transparency that sanitised Edo’s opaque land administration has been rolled back, returning the state to an era of racketeering, political land seizures and institutional opacity.
“5. Reversal of Civil Service Reforms: The vibrant, merit-driven and digitalised civil service Obaseki built is being dragged back to the days of drudgery, corruption, bottlenecks and lethargy. Promotions, assessments and workflows have reverted to patronage and paper-based inefficiency.
“6. Attempted Destruction of Educational Gains Under EdoBEST: EdoBEST, a globally celebrated basic education model that lifted Edo pupils from learning poverty to national and international acclaim, is being sabotaged through political interference, anti-merit appointments and a return to outdated teaching practices.
“7. Attacks on the Agricultural Investment Pipeline: From the Presco land scandal to the intimidation of investors across the state, the APC-led government is systematically attacking the progress that made Edo Nigeria’s most promising agro-industrial hub.
“These are not acts of governance. They are acts of vendetta, bitterness and political vandalism.”
Going further, PDP added: “Despite persistent provocations, Godwin Obaseki has maintained dignity and restraint. He has refused to descend into insults and mudslinging perfected by Okpebholo and his handlers.
“Instead, he has engaged Edo indigenes in the diaspora, giving honest accounts of stewardship – without once referencing the Okpebholo administration, whose operations are remote-controlled by bitter godfathers outside Osadebe Avenue.
“The APC is angry because Obaseki still commands global respect.
They are enraged because he speaks to Edo people across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa about achievements they cannot dispute. Their attacks only expose their insecurity.”
The Edo PDP Publicity Secretary further added that Edo people know who truly controls the Okpebholo administration noting that every major decision is supervised by the same figures who demanded unfettered access to Edo’s treasury during previous APC administrations. Their grievance remains unchanged: Obaseki refused to share Edo’s revenues and insisted that public funds serve the people, not predatory political interests.
“It must be boldly stated that the preponderance of Edo people recognise Godwin Obaseki as one of the finest Governors in the history of the state – standing shoulder to shoulder with the legendary Brigadier Samuel Ogbemudia and Prof. Ambrose Alli.
“His achievements cut across all three senatorial districts: Infrastructure: Over 500 roads constructed or rehabilitated; Opening of new corridors across Benin City, Esan, Owan and rural communities; Comprehensive renewal of public buildings and government facilities; Completion and modernisation of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and associated sports infrastructure.
“Education: Pioneering EdoBEST revolution – now studied globally; Large-scale teacher retraining and digitalization; Rehabilitation of hundreds of schools across all LGAs; Civil Service and Governance; Nigeria’s most modernised state civil service; Digital workflow, e-governance, and merit-based promotions; Judicial autonomy, new court complexes and strengthened justice institutions.
“Agriculture and Industry: Attraction of Saro Farms, Dufil, Elephant Group and numerous agro-industrial investors; Development of the Benin Enterprise Park; Internationally recognised Edo Oil Palm Programme (EPP); Health and Social Welfare; Upgrade and expansion of Stella Obasanjo Hospital; Strengthened primary healthcare centres across the state; Expansion of Edo Health Insurance Scheme; Social welfare support for vulnerable households.
“Energy and Digital Economy: Successful partnership with Ossiomo Power, delivering stable electricity to government buildings, hospitals, courts and street lighting; Digital economy initiatives that positioned Edo as a rising tech hub; Establishment of technology training programmes for youth.
“Culture and Tourism: The groundbreaking MOWAA development; Boost to film, arts and the creative economy; International cultural partnerships that placed Edo on the world map;
“Finance and Economy, Transparent budgeting and anti-corruption systems, Zero tolerance for reckless borrowing, Digitalisation of IGR collection, closing loopholes and raising Edo’s revenues to historic highs. These are the legacies the APC is desperately trying to destroy,” the party emphasized.
While calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in his party members in Edo, the Edo PDP stated that the conduct of Monday Okpebholo and his handlers is overheating the polity and may precipitate a seismic conflagration if not immediately curtailed. “Their politics is driven by bitterness, not service; vendetta, not vision.”
“For the avoidance of doubt: The PDP stands solidly, unequivocally and unapologetically with Mr Godwin Obaseki. We will not allow his legacy to be undermined by those who contributed nothing to Edo’s progress.
“We stand with him because he governed with courage, protected Edo’s treasury, uplifted Edo’s people and resisted the predatory demands of political godfathers.
“History will vindicate him. Edo people already have,” PDP said.