The Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, has issued a blistering response to a recent publication by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain of pushing a self-serving political narrative.
In a detailed rejoinder on Monday, Aziegbemi argued that Ize-Iyamu’s commentary had little to do with defending Governor Monday Okpebholo, calling it a “carefully choreographed audition” by a politician driven by raw ambition rather than principle.
“His essay drips with desperation, revisionism and opportunism. Since he has chosen to deliberately mislead the public, it is necessary to set the record straight,” Aziegbemi stated.
Flyover Project Lacks Transparency — PDP
The PDP chairman criticised the Okpebholo administration’s handling of the ongoing Ramat Park flyover, insisting the project was conceived without due process.
He said the project was awarded “without design, without a tenders board, without transparency and without basic due process,” adding that despite receiving over ₦236 billion in 10 months, the government had not completed a single substantial project.
“What is being marketed as development is nothing more than hurried concrete work, hollow publicity and improvised engineering. Edo people deserve better,” he added.
‘Ize-Iyamu’s Respect for Legitimacy Is Convenient’
Aziegbemi accused Ize-Iyamu of selectively invoking the rule of law only when it suits his political interests.
“This is the same man who rejected election results in 2016 and again in 2020, litigated endlessly, lost at all levels, and only discovered respect for judicial legitimacy after exhausting all appeals,” he said.
He further alleged that the APC chieftain privately held contrasting views about Governor Okpebholo but chose public praise for political calculations.
“Hypocrisy has always been his second nature,” Aziegbemi declared.
Obaseki Delivered Edo’s Most Ambitious Infrastructure Since 1999 — PDP
The PDP leader defended the achievements of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, listing flagship projects such as:
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The new State Secretariat Complex
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John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy
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Edo Tech Park
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1,200km fibre-optic internet expansion
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Remodeled colleges and primary healthcare centres
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Modular refineries
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Independent power projects
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Extensive stormwater interventions
Aziegbemi said efforts to downplay such achievements were “ignorance masquerading as commentary.”
He also defended the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, noting that over 11,300 teachers were trained and more than 900 schools strengthened, impacting over 300,000 learners.
AAU Crisis Predated Okpebholo — PDP
The PDP chairman said the challenges at Ambrose Alli University (AAU) did not begin under the last administration.
According to him, the Special Intervention Team uncovered more than 1,300 ghost workers, insisting that the institution had only recently returned to the control of forces that previously crippled it.
‘Economy Now Opaque Under Okpebholo’
Aziegbemi alleged that governance under the current administration lacked transparency.
“Edo State is now run without audited accounts, without published procurement records, without functioning land administration, and with Certificates of Occupancy practically suspended because the governor has not mastered a consistent signature,” he said.
He also criticised claims of blocked revenue leakages, saying no such reforms were visible in official documents.
On security, the PDP chairman said cult-related violence and kidnappings had surged across multiple local government areas, accusing the administration of relying on “bulldozers and media theatrics.”
‘No Agriculture, No Welfare, No Transparency’
Aziegbemi said the Okpebholo-led government had made no meaningful contribution to agriculture, contrasting it with the Edo State Oil Palm Programme.
“In one year, the administration has not cultivated a single hectare of farmland,” he said.
He also defended the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), calling it a world-class project being trivialised for partisan gain.
‘Ize-Iyamu Is Positioning for 2027’
The PDP chairman accused Ize-Iyamu of using recent commentaries to reposition himself for the Edo South senatorial ticket of the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Everything he writes or says is simply an investment in that ambition,” Aziegbemi alleged.
He further accused Ize-Iyamu of consistently betraying political benefactors, referencing his relationships with Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Adams Oshiomhole and President Bola Tinubu.
Aziegbemi recalled Oshiomhole’s 2016 campaign comments describing Ize-Iyamu as “not fit to be governor,” “a liability to Edo State,” and “a man with a dark past.”
“Nothing in his recent conduct contradicts those words,” Aziegbemi added.
Conclusion
Aziegbemi declared that no amount of “praise-singing” from Ize-Iyamu could conceal what he described as the failures of the Okpebholo administration.
“Edo State is in decline, and no opportunistic chorister auditioning for his next political transaction can mask the reality. Edo deserves competent governance,” he said.
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