The Edo State Government has issued a rebuke against the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of circulating a troubling pattern of misinformation aimed at misleading the public and distorting the achievements of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s current administration.
In press release signed by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the government singled out recent comments credited to the Edo State factional chairman of the PDP, Anthony Aziegbemi, as falling squarely within what it described as a trend of deliberate misrepresentation.
The government stated that Mr. Aziegbemi’s statements, which it characterised as being “marked by clear gaps in understanding and basic administrative procedure,” necessitated a factual clarification for the sake of the people of Edo.
It expressed regret that the PDP chairman had chosen to “peddle inaccuracies about the structure and operations of the present government” rather than engage in constructive criticism.
The official statement was particularly dismissive of his comments regarding the state’s Tender Board, asserting that they “reveal a profound ignorance of procurement laws and administrative hierarchy.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Tender Board is a statutory body with clearly defined roles under Nigerian procurement regulations,” the government clarified.
It went on to emphasis that the board “does not operate on the whims of political parties, nor is it subject to the emotional interpretations of party chairmen unfamiliar with governance procedures.”
The administration labelled the insinuation that its operations were irregular as not only false but also revealing of the chairman’s “unfamiliarity with due process and the limits of his own knowledge.”
In a detailed explanation intended for what it sardonically termed “his education,” the government outlined the standard procedure.
It noted that “every Ministry in Edo State has its own statutory Tenders Board composed of the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, and Directors, all legally empowered to evaluate and approve contracts within their designated limits.”
Beyond this, it confirmed that the apex Tenders Board of the State is the Executive Council, which is “made up of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, and all Commissioners,” and handles approvals exceeding ministerial thresholds. The administration stressed that this structure is “not new, ambiguous, or controversial,” but is standard practice across Nigeria.
The government contended that this attempt to “manufacture controversy” mirrors a broader strategy deployed by figures intent on defending the failures of the immediate-past administration.
It invoked a potent memory for many residents, stating, “Edo people have not forgotten how a century-old, centrally located public health facility, the iconic Central Hospital, was demolished under the previous government.”
The release described the hospital as a facility that “served generations and stood as a symbol of accessible public healthcare,” yet was “willfully replaced with a private entity disguised as a cultural project, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).” It characterised this as “one of the clearest examples of governance gone wrong, where a public institution was sacrificed for a venture with no direct relevance to the healthcare needs of the people.”
The statement further criticised Mr. Aziegbemi’s recent listing of what he called legacy achievements, including an “Agricultural Hub,” the “Tayo Akpata Education Hub,” and the provision of “free WiFi at strategic locations.” The government dismissed these as “projects heavy on slogans but light on substance,” asserting that “none provided measurable improvements to the lives of Edo people.”
It argued that “internet hotspots—sporadic and poorly maintained—never translated to economic empowerment or food security for the struggling households across the State,” and said these claims represent “the same pattern of inflated rhetoric and empty ceremony that characterized the previous era.”
In conclusion, the government pledged that under Governor Monday Okpebholo, Edo State is undergoing a new phase “marked by sincerity of purpose, fiscal discipline, and people-focused development.” It promised an approach of “real projects, real impact, real accountability,” noting that roads are being repaired, healthcare infrastructure strengthened, and education receiving investment.
The administration vowed to remain “committed to truth, transparency, and measurable development outcomes,” stating that “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.”
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