The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has raised a serious alarm. The party recently described an “ongoing, coordinated, and reckless campaign.” They accused the Edo State Government, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, and his “overbearing All Progressives Congress (APC) godfathers” of orchestrating this campaign. It involves calumny, provocation, distortion, and hostility.

Dan Osa-Ogbegie, the party’s publicity secretary, signed and issued a statement. In it, the PDP claimed this campaign has targeted former Governor Godwin Obaseki for months. The goal, according to the party, is to bait, distract, and tarnish his reputation. The PDP praised Obaseki for his transparency, prudence, institutional reforms, and clear purpose.

The PDP stated that this “lingering resentment” comes from Obaseki’s stand. He refused to give Edo’s resources to private individuals. This practice was common under former leader Adams Oshiomhole. Obaseki, however, courageously stopped it.

The PDP further accused the Okpebholo administration. They claim its early months were spent dismantling, undermining, or frustrating projects. These were legacy projects and institutional gains from the Obaseki era.

The opposition party listed many alleged acts. These include sabotage and reversals. The PDP described them as “a political vendetta disguised as governance.”

Alleged Sabotage of Obaseki’s Legacy Projects

1. Attacks on Saro Farms

The PDP highlighted “hostility, disruptions, and reported destruction” at Saro Farms. This farm, located in Orhionmwon and Ovia, was a major agricultural investment. Obaseki’s administration attracted it. The party called these actions a “devastating blow to investor confidence.”

The PDP alleged a pattern of intimidation. They believe it shows coordinated action. Elements within the Edo State Government and their APC supporters are said to sponsor these acts. The party described them as “a direct assault on the agricultural revolution” championed by Obaseki.

2. Suspension of Benin Enterprise Park

The PDP condemned the “mindless suspension” of the Benin Enterprise Park. They also criticized its “public disparagement.” This industrialization project was a landmark. Obaseki’s administration conceptualized and advanced it. The PDP blamed the suspension on the APC’s unwillingness to accept any of Obaseki’s developmental legacies.

3. Hostility Towards MOWAA

The PDP claims the government showed hostility towards the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA). Instead of supporting Edo’s cultural profile, the government “encouraged toxic narratives.” Reckless actions followed. This led to a security collapse. Hoodlums then invaded a facility hosting foreign diplomats. The party labeled this “a calculated attempt” to damage Obaseki’s cultural reforms, which received global acclaim.

4. Reversal of EdoGIS and Digital Land Reforms

The Okpebholo administration also faces accusations of reversing EdoGIS. This includes digital land reforms. These reforms had “sanitised Edo’s opaque land administration.” The PDP believes this reversal will return land administration to a past era. That era was marked by racketeering, political land seizures, and institutional opacity.

5. Reversal of Civil Service Reforms

The opposition party stated that Obaseki built a “vibrant, merit-driven, and digitalized civil service.” They claim it is now being pulled back. It is returning to “days of drudgery, corruption, bottlenecks, and lethargy.” The PDP alleged that promotions and assessments now rely on patronage. Workflows have also reverted to inefficient paper-based systems.

6. Attacks on EdoBEST Educational Gains

The PDP warned about attempts to destroy educational gains under EdoBEST. This basic education reform model brought Edo pupils national and international acclaim. It lifted them from “learning poverty.” The party claims it is now being sabotaged. This sabotage comes from political interference, anti-merit appointments, and outdated teaching methods.

7. Attacks on Agricultural Investment

The PDP also cited attacks on the agricultural investment pipeline. This ranges from the “Presco land scandal” to investor intimidation across Edo State. The party alleged that the APC-led government is “systematically attacking progress.” This progress had made Edo “Nigeria’s most promising agro-industrial hub.”

The opposition party strongly declared: “These are not acts of governance. They are acts of vendetta, bitterness, and political vandalism.”

Obaseki’s Response and PDP’s Defense

Despite these provocations, former Governor Obaseki has shown “dignity and restraint,” the PDP stated. He has avoided “insults and mudslinging.” These tactics, the party noted, are “perfected by Okpebholo and his handlers.”

Instead, Obaseki has engaged Edo indigenes in the diaspora. He provides “honest accounts of stewardship.” The PDP emphasized that he has not mentioned the Okpebholo administration. They claim this administration’s operations are “remote-controlled by bitter godfathers outside Osadebe Avenue.”

The PDP statement added that “the APC is angry” because Obaseki still has global respect. They are “enraged” that he discusses achievements with Edo people worldwide. These achievements, the PDP asserted, “they cannot dispute.” The party concluded that “their attacks only expose their insecurity.”

Allegations of External Control and Undisputed Grievances

The PDP reiterated its accusation. The Okpebholo administration, they claim, is controlled by the same figures. These figures, during earlier APC governments, “demanded unfettered access to Edo’s treasury.”

The party alleged that these same figures supervise every major decision. The core grievance remains constant, according to the PDP. “Obaseki refused to share Edo’s revenues.” He also “insisted that public funds serve the people, not predatory political interests.”

Obaseki’s Achievements: A Legacy Under Threat

The PDP statement detailed Obaseki’s achievements across many sectors. The party presented these as the record the APC allegedly wants to erase. These areas include:

Infrastructure
Education
Civil Service and Governance
Agriculture and Industry
Health and Social Welfare
Energy and Digital Economy
Culture and Tourism
Finance and Economy

The PDP issued a strong warning: “These are the legacies the APC is desperately trying to destroy.”

PDP Calls on President Tinubu to Intervene

The PDP described the provocations as escalating. Consequently, the party urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to control his party members in Edo. The PDP issued a stern warning: “The conduct of Monday Okpebholo and his handlers is overheating the polity.” They added that it “may precipitate a seismic conflagration if not immediately curtailed.”

The party further accused the Okpebholo administration. They claim its politics are driven by bitterness, not service. They see it as vendetta, not vision. The PDP affirmed its strong support. “The PDP stands solidly, unequivocally, and unapologetically with Mr. Godwin Obaseki,” the party declared.

They vowed not to allow his legacy to be undermined. This, they said, would be by those who “contributed nothing to Edo’s progress.” The PDP concluded: “We stand with him because he governed with courage, protected Edo’s treasury, uplifted Edo’s people, and resisted the predatory demands of political godfathers. History will vindicate him. Edo people already have.”