By Raphael Okhiria
Against the expectations of critics, the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has silence sceptics with far-reaching development projects in recent years, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has said.
Afegbua who stated this on Sunday in Benin City, noted that “the questions today in Edo state has shifted from capacity to curiosity on how he is funding capital projects across the three senatorial districts of the state ranging from school construction and rehabilitation, water supply, security infrastructure and agricultural support.”
The Commissioner for Information in a press statement also disclosed that under the previous arrangement, EdoBEST consultants received N160 million monthly, even as many even as many schools deteriorated.
He however added that in contrast Okpebholo has increased subventions to key tertiary institutions.
Afegbua explained that Ambrose Alli University previously receiving N41million, now gets N500 million monthly, for hike Edo University Uzairue which had received no state allocation before, now receives N250 million monthly.
He said, “Initially underrated during the election period, the Governor is now receiving commendation for what officials call a humble, accountable and promise-driven style of leadership.
“Public discourse across Edo has shifted from questions about his capacity to curiosity about how he is funding the scale of infrastructural work currently ongoing.
“While opposition figures have criticised aspects of the administration’s agenda, the government maintains that the results on ground speak for themselves.
“They may complain for relevance, but they cannot fault the quality or scale of the projects,” Afegbua said.
He further disclosed that on healthcare the state has completed 60 new Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) across the senatorial districts, part of a total 146 planned.
“We are not only building PHCs; we are equipping them to function effectively,” the Commissioner said.