EDO PDP SLAMS GOV. OKPEBHOLO OVER N2.5BN ALLOCATION TO UBTH, DEMANDS REVERSAL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned Governor Monday Okpebholo’s approval of N2.5 billion for the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), describing the move as reckless and politically motivated.
Governor Okpebholo had announced the approval on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the new Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Idia Ize-Iyamu, who sought the state’s support for the construction of a world-class Paediatric Centre valued at N2.5 billion.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP argued that the funds should have been invested in state-owned hospitals rather than a federal institution.
“This misadventure is not only reckless but a glaring example of the 2027 election fixation and desperate eye-service politics that has defined Okpebholo’s almost one year in office,” the statement read. “Edo people are being made to suffer while their resources are squandered on federal facilities that are not the primary responsibility of the state.”
The party aligned itself with the position of the Association of Resident Doctors employed by the state government, who have decried the decision as a misplaced priority.
Highlighting the state of Edo-owned health facilities, the PDP lamented that the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, rebuilt with state funds, remains largely underutilised; the Edo Specialist Hospital requires expansion and support; and the General Hospital in Abudu functions “like a mere patent medicine store.”
The party also noted that Edo doctors only recently suspended a strike, with several of their demands still unmet.
“Edo people did not elect a Governor to act as a philanthropist to federal institutions. They elected a leader to fix our hospitals, build capacity, and ensure access to healthcare for all. By neglecting this sacred duty, Okpebholo has shown he is unprepared, unserious, and out of touch with the realities of Edo citizens,” the statement continued.
The PDP demanded that the decision be reversed and funds redirected to state-owned hospitals that directly serve the people, warning that Edo citizens “will not forget this reckless waste.”
Efforts to obtain the government’s response on the matter were unsuccessful, though a senior official, who requested anonymity, said an official reaction would be issued on Thursday.
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