In the lead up to the 2024 Edo gubernatorial election, the Niger-Delta Renaissance Network has lambasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, over an “embarrassing” video he posted showing a flooded portion of the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Benin City.
According to the group, the video is a “serious indictment” on the previous APC-led administration under former governor Adams Oshiomhole, who had borrowed money from the World Bank to execute a storm water project in the GRA area, but failed to complete it.
In a statement, the group’s spokesman, Senior Comrade Gabriel Aniete, said the APC candidate, Okpebholo, should have known better about the history of the failed project before making the video. Aniete stated that the flooding in the GRA area was a direct result of the unfinished storm water project, for which Oshiomhole’s administration had budgeted 30 billion Naira.
“It is sad and embarrassing that a man who wants to govern Edo couldn’t even do his due diligence in understanding the facts about the said road in GRA,” Aniete said.
The group also alleged that Oshiomhole is “furious” with Okpebholo for the video, which has “backfired” on the APC. Aniete claimed that the party has placed a ban on “unscheduled public appearances” by Okpebholo and his team, a move the group finds “not really comfortable with.”
The Niger-Delta Renaissance Network called for a probe into the failed storm water project, stating that those responsible must be held accountable to serve as a deterrent to others in power. The group also urged all gubernatorial candidates to participate in debates to allow them to present their plans for the people of Edo State.
The full statement reads in part;
“We are surprised that the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who should know better about the happenings in the state, went to a part of GRA to do a live video indicating the devastating nature of the road. However, the road where the video was recorded is along the stormwater project that the APC chieftain, Adams Oshiomhole, collected money for but did not complete”.
“It is sad and embarrassing that a man who wants to govern Edo couldn’t even do his due diligence in understanding the facts about the said road in GRA”.
The spokesman for the group, Senior Comrade Gabriel Aniete, further stated that in a sane country, by now, all those responsible for the failed Stormwater Project in Benin should be facing prosecution, as their actions have led to the perennial flooding of the GRA.
Comrade Aniete also alleged that the embarrassing video by Senator Monday Okpebholo did not sit well with Adams Oshiomhole, as inside sources told the group that the former governor is furious with the candidate of his party for embarking on a propaganda that has since backfired on them.
“We have been reliably told that the former Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, is furious with the candidate of his party, and indeed, he should be furious and embarrassed by the action of his party’s candidate for indicting him over the failed Stormwater Project, which his administration failed to complete after investing a whopping 30 billion Naira on.”
“We have also equally gathered that a ban has been placed on all unscheduled public appearances by the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and his team. We are not really comfortable with this as a group. Candidates should be spontaneous and able to express themselves before the people, as gagging them will deny the people of their true intentions.”
“If the Comrade Governor had done what is right by completing the Stormwater project, I don’t think Monday would have the chance to be dancing inside dirty water in GRA to prove the current administration has failed, hence, deserves to be kicked out for the administration of the APC to take over.”
The group calls for the probe of the Stormwater Project, stating that those responsible for the failed project must not and should not go unpunished, as that will serve as a deterrent to people in power to always do what is right for the people.
“We are calling on the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki to probe the failed Stormwater Project, which could have addressed the perennial flooding in Benin. All the people responsible for the failed project must be made to account, as this would serve as a deterrent to others to always put the people first.”
The group enjoined the candidates to square up in a debate to discuss their intentions for the people of Edo, instead of embarking on needless propaganda that adds no value to the people of Edo and political discourse.
“In the video which went viral online, we overheard the APC chairman confirming that the APC candidate, Monday, will not participate in a public debate with the candidates of the PDP, LP, and others. We find the remark of the state’s chairman of the APC to be appalling and disgraceful. If the APC candidate will not square up in a debate with other candidates, how then are they going to lay bare their plans for the people? Shouldn’t a debate be an opportunity for the APC to really tell the people of Edo what they intend to do for them?”
“Debate is a platform where candidates are meant to market themselves to the people, and we encourage all the candidates to participate in all the electoral debates leading to the election, as quality conversations are healthy for our nascent democracy.”
“As a Niger-Delta pressure group, our desire is to see a thriving Niger-Delta, and we encourage all the governors in the Niger-Delta to take the development of our people and states seriously, as this is the only way we can lift the people out of poverty.” The statement concludes.