Edo Govt Defends Okpebholo’s Performance, Says Critics Can’t Fault Quality of Projects

The Edo State Government has said that while critics of Governor Monday Okpebholo may complain to remain relevant, they cannot dispute the scale and quality of the infrastructural development recorded in his first year in office.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday in Benin City, insisting that the administration has exceeded expectations despite initial doubts from opposition parties during the 2024 electioneering period.

Afegbua said the Governor, once underrated by opponents, has “silenced sceptics” with far-reaching infrastructural and social investment projects across the state. He noted that public discourse has now shifted from questioning the Governor’s competence to curiosity over how the administration is funding capital projects across the three senatorial districts.

According to him, the Okpebholo-led government has executed projects in school construction and rehabilitation, water supply, security infrastructure and agricultural support, among others.

He contrasted the current administration’s reforms with the previous system, noting that:

• EdoBEST consultants were previously paid N160 million monthly while many schools deteriorated.
• Ambrose Alli University, which had received N41 million monthly, now gets N500 million.
• Edo University, Uzairue, which previously received no allocation, now receives N250 million monthly.

Afegbua said the government’s transparency and reforms had won public approval, despite attempts by opposition figures to criticise aspects of the administration’s agenda.

He further disclosed that the Okpebholo administration has completed 60 new Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the three senatorial districts out of a total of 146 earmarked for construction.

According to him, the state government is not only constructing new PHCs but also equipping them to function optimally.