The Edo State Government has condemned what it described as a recent wave of misinformation orchestrated by certain political actors determined to distort the achievements of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration.
The government said statements credited to the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Anthony Aziegbemi, fall squarely within this pattern of deliberate falsehoods aimed at misrepresenting governance processes in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 14, by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, Fred Itua, the government said Aziegbemi’s remarks reflected a “clear gap in understanding and basic administrative procedure,” and therefore required factual clarification for the benefit of the Edo people.
The state government expressed disappointment that Aziegbemi chose to “peddle inaccuracies” rather than engage in constructive dialogue about governance.
His comments on the operations of the Tender Board, the statement said, displayed “profound ignorance of procurement laws and administrative hierarchy.”
“For the avoidance of doubt,” Itua noted, “the Tender Board is a statutory body with clearly defined roles under Nigerian procurement regulations. It does not operate on the whims of political parties, nor is it subject to emotional interpretations by party chairmen unfamiliar with governance procedures.”
The government explained that every ministry in Edo State operates its own statutory Tenders Board, composed of the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, and Directors, who are legally empowered to evaluate and approve contracts within set thresholds.
Beyond these, the apex Tenders Board is the State Executive Council, which comprises the Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, and all Commissioners.
“This structure is neither new nor controversial. It is the standard practice in all states across the federation,” the statement said.
Attempt To Manufacture Controversy Will Fail – The Edo Govt Says
The government compared Aziegbemi’s comments to a broader strategy by individuals seeking to defend what it called the failures of the immediate-past administration.
“This attempt to manufacture controversy mirrors the strategy deployed by those intent on defending the failures of the former government, even when the facts are glaring,” the statement said.
It recalled the demolition of the iconic, century-old Central Hospital in Benin City, calling it one of the most reckless decisions of the previous administration.
“Edo people have not forgotten how a centrally located public health facility that served generations was demolished and replaced with a private entity disguised as a cultural project-the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA),” the statement said.
According to the government, the replacement of a functioning public hospital with a project that had “no direct relevance to the healthcare needs of the people” remains one of the clearest examples of misplaced priorities under the former administration.
So-Called Legacy Projects Were Empty Slogans
The government dismissed Aziegbemi’s list of alleged achievements under the previous government, including an Agricultural Hub, the Tayo Akpata Education Hub, and free WiFi at strategic locations, as unverifiable and superficial.
“These were projects heavy on slogans but light on substance,” Itua said.
“None provided measurable improvements to the lives of Edo people.”
According to the statement, the claims of “free WiFi hotspots,” which were sporadic and poorly maintained, never translated into economic empowerment or food security for struggling households.
The government added that the former administration was known for “inflated rhetoric and empty ceremonies,” using glossy media briefings to mask a governance model lacking transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.
“Those who benefited from that era may attempt to rewrite history,” the state government said, “but facts remain stubborn things.”
The incumbent Edo government stressed that under Governor Okpebholo, Edo State is experiencing a new era anchored on honesty, fiscal discipline, and people-first development.
“Our approach is simple: real projects, real impact, real accountability,” the statement said.
It highlighted ongoing efforts to rehabilitate roads, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and invest meaningfully in education—contrasting these with the demolition of public assets by the previous administration.
According to the government, civil servants now enjoy dignity and respect, and public institutions are no longer being converted into private experiments or used to erect “monuments irrelevant to the daily realities of citizens.”
The Edo State Government reaffirmed its commitment to truth, transparency, and measurable development, insisting that propaganda will not distract from ongoing reforms.
“Edo people deserve leadership anchored on substance, not propaganda,” the statement said.
“No amount of revisionist commentary, whether from party chairmen unfamiliar with administrative processes or from individuals nostalgic for a failed era, can derail the ongoing transformation.”
The government vowed to remain focused on delivering development that directly improves the lives of Edo people.
“Edo people know better and are fully aware of how propaganda was elevated above genuine development. The former administration perfected the art of public deception, offering glossy press briefings to mask a governance model that had little regard for transparency, accountability, or sustainable impact. Those who benefited from that era may attempt to rewrite history, but facts remain stubborn things.
“Under Governor Monday Okpebholo, Edo State is undergoing a new phase marked by sincerity of purpose, fiscal discipline, and people-focused development. Our approach is simple: real projects, real impact, real accountability.
“Roads are being fixed. Healthcare infrastructure is being strengthened, not demolished. Education is receiving meaningful investment. Civil servants are respected, not humiliated. And unlike the previous leadership, this administration is not turning public institutions into private experiments or erecting monuments irrelevant to the daily realities of citizens.
“The Government remains committed to truth, transparency, and measurable development outcomes. The Edo people deserve leadership anchored on substance, not propaganda. No amount of revisionist commentary-whether from party chairmen unfamiliar with administrative processes or from individuals nostalgic for a failed era-can derail the ongoing transformation,” the statement concluded.
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