Edo State Government has refuted claims by a faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing Governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, of neglecting their responsibilities and mismanaging state resources.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, on Thursday, the government described the PDP’s claims as falsehoods and a desperate attempt by a failed political party to regain relevance.
The government stressed that Deputy Governor Idahosa is in the state, actively carrying out his duties, and that Edo has never been left without leadership.
It also highlighted that Edo currently pays one of the highest minimum wages in Nigeria at ₦75,000, positioning workers’ welfare as a top priority.
Responding to allegations of neglect in education and healthcare, the government blamed the previous PDP-led administration for failing to recruit teachers and address hospital infrastructure over eight years.
It noted that Governor Okpebholo has begun upgrading the Stella Obasanjo Hospital Complex, investing in primary healthcare, and tackling road rehabilitation projects such as the Benin–Abraka and Benin–Sapele roads. The Oba Market reconstruction and the Rahmat Park Flyover construction were also cited as key milestones.
On security, the administration said its crackdown on cultism, kidnapping, and violent crime is restoring peace to previously troubled communities.
It also defended its political appointments, describing them as a strategic inclusion to ensure competence and balanced representation across the state.
The government added, “It is deeply unfortunate that the PDP, a party cut off from the lifeline of power after eight years of monumental failure, now resorts to cheap lies and baseless propaganda to stay afloat.”
“Rather than apologising to Edo people for years of neglect, the PDP has chosen to embarrass itself with hollow claims that collapse under the weight of facts.”
According to it, Governor Okpebholo is less than a year in office, yet he has set in motion reforms and projects that are already redefining Edo’s development trajectory. It noted that Edo people are witnesses to this progress and will not be swayed by the PDP’s antics.
It further urged the public to disregard the ‘falsehoods peddled by the PDP’, adding that “Edo State is not rudderless. It is firmly on course under the purposeful leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa.”
The statement concluded, “The administration remains resolute in its mission to deliver the dividends of democracy, restore Edo’s pride, and secure a prosperous future for all.”
