By Tobore Jerome
The Bible in the book of Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn”. Pondering on this scripture gives us a clear definition of two sets of persons who can be in positions of authority.
The heart warming of rejoicing by Edo people towards His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State, since inception of office has clearly put him in part A of that scripture that says “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice”. While the part B which says that “but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn”, clearly talks about the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The man Governor Okpebholo whom heaven has ordained for a time like this and was overwhelmingly elected as governor by Edo people during the September 21 governorship poll to pilot the affairs of the state and redeem the lost glory of Edo State, has continue to break records and demonstrate capacity leadership in championing the Renewed Hope of Mr President and the Rising of a New Edo.
The recent discovery in the report submitted by the Assets Verification Committee, which was tasked with assessing government assets and liabilities, have left millions of Edo people in shock, dismay and dumbfounded in the nature of evil done against the people and the state, that would have been concealed in secrecy if the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government of former Governor Godwin Obaseki has perpetuated himself in power through his political godson Asue Akintunde Ighodalo, who lost woefully to the man Senator Monday Okpebholo whom God have sent to redeem Edo State.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, in a statement signed on Wednesday February 5th, 2025, says that Governor Okpebholo vows to implement the committee’s findings.
According to Itua, Governor Okpebholo stated this in Government House in Benin City, while receiving the report of the Assets Verification Committee from members of the committee led by its chairman, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe.
“I appreciate the committee for a job well done and the time invested in this exercise. I understand the challenges you faced, yet you successfully carried out this crucial assignment. Rest assured that your findings and recommendations will be implemented appropriately,” the Governor stated.
Itua further stated that “The report provides a comprehensive breakdown of Edo State’s assets and liabilities, including outstanding debts, contractual obligations, and financial commitments. Dr. Umakhihe highlighted concerns over mismanagement, improper allocation of resources, and the misuse of consultants in government operations, which created opportunities for corruption and abuse.”
Similarly, The Chief Press Secretary to governor, Fred Itua, in an article titled “GOV OKPEBHOLO’S UNSHAKEN DRIVE TO RECOVER EDO’S STOLEN ASSETS” highlighted some of the atrocities done against Edo people and the state by the former administration of Governor Obaseki, in the report that was submitted by the Assets Verification Committee.
Itua stated that Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, could best be described as a day of gloom in Edo State, and indeed, our country, Nigeria! A black Wednesday as mind blogging, heart renting, and unbelievable revelations were brought to light.
The article partly reads “While many have often taunted the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki as an MoU government, known only for rhetorics and no action, not many (if any) would have envisaged or imagined the level of fraud and corruption that took place under his watch as governor of Edo State.
“From the reports, one thing became glaring and obvious – Obaseki ran Edo State like a mafia, and his mission resonates with the first part of John 10:10; “to steal, to kill and to destroy”, and that, he did. Like a ravaging demon, he embarked on a plundering spree, and today, the state bleeds from his satanic kind of looting.
“With over 900% increase in the official debt profile of the state (from N84b in November, 2016 to N682b in November, 2024), Obaeki, a self proclaimed financial expert and economist, made rubbish of his profession with his clear lack of financial discipline, outrageous financial dealings.
“What is even more outrageous and annoying, is the fact that, these monies were borrowed only to be redirected into the pockets of his friends and allies in the name of consultancy, shady deals and inflated projects whose procurement processes were shrouded in secrecy. His personal company, Afriinvest, and that of his godson, Asue Ighodalo, played prominent roles in this demonic order.
“In an unprecedented and very worrisome manner, State funds were used to build structures and infrastructure and handed over to private individuals/companies with no record of financial commitments. For example, after committing N19 billion of Edo State taxpayers money in constructing Radisson Hotel, Obaseki’s administration ceded away 80% of the ownership to Tribury House Ltd, a private company registered in 2024 with no single financial commitment to the project.
“Within December 2022 and July 2025, Obaseki’s government paid N967 million as consultancy fees to Tanit Engineering to SUPERVISE work at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital. Yes, you heard right! N967 million not for the project itself or to purchase equipment but just to supervise work at the hospital. Even more chilling is the revelation that the procurement process in this bid was restricted to only one company – Tanit Engineering…. Who owes Tanit Engineering?
“EdoBEST program, which many have now nicknamed, “EdoSCAM” was not spared in this looting spree, as the heartless, looting “general” disguised as an investment banker and technocrat serially raped the state educational sector blind, while gloating in self deceit as he continually reeled out superfluous claims to the general public. Like one drunk in his own deception and foolishness, Obaseki embezzled the funds meant for EdoBEST, while our children and teachers suffered in harsh learning conditions.
“The chilling discovery that Obaseki only remitted $5m out of the $75m released by the World Bank for basic education reforms and renovation of schools to SUBEB is not only nauseating but outright wickedness. Withholding a whopping 93% of funds meant for Edo pupils and students, Obaseki demonstrated an unusual high level of lack of empathy for the Edo child. It is disheartening that the same man that sworn on oath to protect the vulnerable Edo child stole and took that which belonged to the same child.”
FINAL THOUGHT
Edo people must at this point in time and going forward rally support around His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the man whom God have sent to redeem and liberate Edo State from the shackles of poor leadership and failed governance brought upon the state by the immediate past administration, so as to develop an Edo State that belongs to all Edo people and continued show of respect for traditional institutions in the state.
The delusional People’s Democratic Party (PDP) whom has been bastardized and engrossed in crisis and the centre can no longer hold, former Governor Obaseki, the party’s candidate, Asue Akintunde Ighodalo, must be held responsible and be made to account for the atrocities and evil done to Edo people and the state.
