Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, and the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in a heated exchange on Sunday, November 17, over the construction of the 7.5-kilometer Temboga Road in Benin City.
Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee and former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation under Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, sparked the disagreement with an online statement.
In the statement, Nehikhare accused Governor Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to claim credit for the construction of the strategic road and other projects in Edo State, which he asserted were “initiated and completed” under Obaseki’s leadership.
Nehikhare said: “The claim by Okpebholo that his government was flagging off construction of the 7.5km Temboga Road, among others in the state, was disingenuous and misleading, as the road (Temboga) has already been constructed by the immediate past government of Obaseki.
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“The governor-select should desist from his mendacious antics of rewriting the story of the performance of the Obaseki-led government, by claiming credit for his (Obaseki’s) projects, but rather focus on delivering his campaign promises, if any, by initiating projects that reflect his administration’s vision, if any, for the state.
“It is unfortunate that Senator Okpebholo, the governor-select and his administration are kicking off on a very bad footing, and have resorted to deceiving the people of Edo State with false claims of initiating projects that have already been completed by the government of his predecessor, Obaseki.
“One of the projects is the 7.5km Temboga Road, which was initiated and constructed by the Obaseki-led government. This is utterly preposterous and condemnable. We urge the governor-select and his administration to desist from such ignoble acts forthwith. Edo people deserve better than disingenuity and deceit.
“Rather than engaging in these mendacious antics to rewrite the performance records of Governor Obaseki’s administration, we call on Senator Okpebholo to concentrate on delivering his campaign promises to Edo people, by initiating and executing his own projects that align with his administration’s vision for Edo State, if really they have any plans or developmental agenda for the state.”
Edo governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, however, declared that Nehikhare, whom he described as a retired politician and idle factional publicity secretary of the depleted PDP caretaker committee in Edo, had again exposed one of the many failures of the Obaseki-led administration.
He said: “We understand that the factional chapter of the depleted PDP is in a hurry to redeem itself. The PDP-led administration, for over one year, failed to complete a mere 7.5km of road (Temboga).
“The party (PDP) is pained that Governor Okpebholo is in a hurry to complete some projects abandoned or poorly done by the Obaseki’s administration.
“Governor Okpebholo will not be distracted by retired politicians, who are still chasing clouts and suffering from post-election traumatic disorder.”
Itua also assured that Okpebholo would continue to work for the Edo people, provide critical infrastructure, and create economic opportunities for everyone.
