Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has started again by accusing the previous administration under Governor Godwin Obaseki of deliberately withholding textbooks donated by President Bola Tinubu. The reason? According to Okpebholo, the books had the President’s face on them, which was apparently too much for the former government to stomach. As Okpebholo kicked off his grand “remodeling” of public schools and started distributing the books across the state, he made sure to emphasize the “wickedness” of the last administration, accusing them of playing politics with the education of Edo children.
Okpebholo’s team rushed to issue a statement slamming the previous government, even as the governor began overseeing the handout of notebooks and textbooks in Benin City. The books, according to the governor, were intended for Edo’s children, but were hoarded because of an unnecessary fixation on the President’s image.
The Governor’s remarks were made during an inspection of the New Era College, a school that, in his words, was crumbling under Obaseki’s watch.
According to Okpebholo, classrooms were so poorly maintained that students had to sit on the floor to learn. So, while the previous administration supposedly focused on something called “Edobest” Okpebholo claims the real education system was left in shambles. The state’s facilities, he argued, were neglected, leaving students to suffer in subpar conditions.
It’s easy to see that Okpebholo’s approach to governance isn’t about moving forward, it’s about throwing shade at his predecessor. The governor proudly announced plans to rebuild the school, promising that soon, the “rot” would be cleared up, and the children would have comfortable seats to sit on.
His frustration was evident: “The former governor refused Edo children the use of these books provided by the President, but he could not provide seats for the children to sit comfortably while learning.”
So, while Okpebholo eagerly sets about dismantling Obaseki’s legacy, the real question is: why does he seem more invested in attacking his predecessor than actually governing? Is pointing fingers is easier than delivering results.
The continuous back-and-forth between the two governors distracts from the fact that, in the end, it’s the people of Edo State who are left holding the short end of the stick.
Will this kind of political leadership benefit the people of Edo State?
