The Peoples Assembly for Good Governance (PAGG) has criticised Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration, describing its two years in office as disappointing and accusing it of failing to tackle poverty, insecurity, infrastructural decay and declining living standards in Edo State.
The group made its position known in an assessment of the governor’s performance ahead of the second anniversary of his administration on November 12, saying residents had endured hardship, unfulfilled promises and what it described as poor governance.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Dr Samson Isibor, and Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nkama, PAGG said the economic and social conditions of Edo residents had worsened since Okpebholo assumed office, with poverty and hardship becoming more pronounced.
It accused the administration of paying greater attention to public pronouncements than concrete achievements, arguing that its performance had not met the expectations of the people.
On infrastructure, the group alleged that several roads across Benin City and rural communities remained in poor condition, exposing motorists and other road users to accidents, financial losses and other risks.
It linked the recent tanker accident at Oluku to the poor state of roads, describing the incident as one of the consequences of the government’s alleged failure to address critical infrastructure challenges.
The organisation also raised concerns about public education, claiming that many schools lacked basic facilities, adequate classrooms and sufficient teachers, while some pupils and students were still compelled to sit on bare floors.
On agriculture, PAGG accused the government of failing to give the sector the attention it deserved, alleging that insecurity and bad roads had hampered farmers’ access to their farmlands and the movement of agricultural produce to markets.
It identified Sobe Farm, Warrake Farm and Anegbette Farm as some of the agricultural settlements allegedly abandoned by the state government.
The group also faulted the state government’s handling of electricity supply, blaming the persistent power challenges on its inability to resolve its disagreements with Ossiomo Power Company.
According to PAGG, the situation has left residents and business operators
dependent on the inadequate electricity supply from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).On housing, the group said the absence of an effective affordable housing policy had worsened accommodation challenges, particularly for civil servants and low-income earners, amid rising rental costs.
Although it acknowledged the state government’s recent acquisition of 50 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, PAGG argued that the number was insufficient to address the transportation needs of a state the size of Edo.
It maintained that a more extensive public transportation scheme was necessary to reduce commuting costs and ease the burden on residents.
The group further accused the administration of failing to rehabilitate moribund industries, encourage industrial development and create sustainable employment opportunities for the growing population.
It also expressed concern over alleged illegal levies and multiple ticketing in markets across the state, claiming that traders and small business owners were being subjected to additional financial burdens.
On the state’s finances, PAGG raised questions over what it described as Edo’s increasing debt profile, alleging that the government had borrowed more than N172 billion without adequately explaining how the funds had been spent.
It called on the administration to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, particularly against the backdrop of increased federal allocations and internally generated revenue.
The group, in its overall assessment, described the Okpebholo administration as a non-performing government, insisting that its policies and activities had yet to produce significant improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Edo residents.
PAGG also faulted the governor’s reported target of securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, arguing that the administration needed to address the concerns of residents.
It predicted that achieving the target could prove difficult in the face of what it described as widespread public dissatisfaction.
The organisation said Edo voters would be more deliberate in making electoral decisions in subsequent elections, insisting that the state would not be caught off guard again.
