The Edo State Government has commended the media for what it described as “objective and responsible coverage” of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration, which will mark its one year in office on November 12.
At a press briefing on Monday November 3rd, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, also used the occasion to criticise the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, accusing it of financial recklessness and massive debt accumulation.
Afegbua claimed that despite generating over ₦1.6 trillion in revenue — the highest in the state’s history — the Obaseki administration left behind more than ₦600 billion in debt, including ₦178 billion in unpaid road contract obligations.
He said, “We inherited a state where consultants ran the system, the civil service was abandoned, and multiple agencies were created as conduits to siphon public funds.”
The commissioner also accused the past administration of using the EdoBEST education initiative as a “conduit pipe,” alleging that ₦160 million was paid monthly to consultants between 2018 and 2024.
Afegbua further disclosed that Governor Okpebholo has reclaimed part of the Central Hospital land in Benin City, which had been ceded to the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA), insisting that “healthcare must take precedence over museums.”
He added that the current government is working on at least 18 road projects across the state while prioritising infrastructural renewal and healthcare reform.
“The governor believes that people must be well before they can appreciate art or culture. So, the focus is on putting the health and welfare of citizens first,” Afegbua said.
