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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has asserted that he inherited nothing from the previous administration of Godwin Obaseki, stating that not even a piece of paper was handed over to him when he assumed office.
In a Channels Television interview, Okpebholo made this assertion while dismissing claims that his early actions in office were just initial hype meant to impress the public. He said he told Edo people during his campaign that he came to work for them, and that is exactly what he is doing now.
He argued that time is limited, with only four years in his first term, and he does not have the luxury to delay. He noted that by the time he reaches two or three years in office, politics will take center stage, so he must deliver now rather than wait until the last minute.
On education, Okpebholo disputed praise for the previous administration’s EdoBEST program, saying there was nothing on ground. He explained that schools were in a sorry state with no teachers and no classrooms, which is why he employed 5,000 teachers and has renovated 120 schools, with 60 more ongoing.
He described the former EdoBEST as merely a small tablet and said his government is now introducing proper ICT to rebuild the system. Regarding healthcare and human capital development, the governor said he met nothing but consultancy MOUs and no tangible structures.
He confirmed that his administration is looking into the books of the past government and has found a lot, including large sums of money taken from the system. He insisted he is not stealing, noting that President Tinubu is giving him the same allocations given to his predecessor, but he is using the funds for Edo people instead.
In his words, “I didn’t meet anything. Not even a piece of paper that was handed over to me when I came in. The school was in a sorry situation because, one, there were no teachers.”
“Two, no classrooms. The education system. No, that is on paper. But then it wasn’t on ground. I just employed 5,000 teachers. If they had them, I wouldn’t employ them.”
“There was no classroom. I have renovated 120 schools already. About 60 ongoing. If Obaseki did all this, I would never be doing them now.”
