From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at war of words over the state government’s pledge to commit N2.5 billion to strengthen health facilities at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
Governor Monday Okpebholo announced the pledge when the new Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. (Mrs) Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Benin City.
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But in its reaction, the PDP condemned, in the strongest terms, the decision of the Edo State Government to allocate a staggering N2.5 billion to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), a federal institution, at a time when the state-owned hospitals are in ruins.
“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. 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 said in a statement signed by its State Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare.
On its part, the APC said the attack by the factional People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Governor Okpebholo, over the N2.5 billion intervention at the UBTH, is not only baseless but, also, a clear reflection of a party that has lost touch with the needs of the people.
“As usual, the PDP has chosen propaganda over truth, mischief over facts, even when the matter concerns the health and survival of Edo citizens”, the party said in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, a lawyer.
The party pointed out that “UBTH is not just a “federal hospital” as the PDP desperately portrays it; it is the foremost referral hospital serving Edo people daily. From road accident victims, to mothers in need of emergency care, to children requiring critical surgery, UBTH remains the lifeline for thousands of Edo families. Supporting UBTH is, therefore, a direct investment in Edo lives.
“It is laughable that the PDP, under whose watch Edo’s health facilities collapsed, now pretends to be a defender of state owned hospitals”, the APC further stated.
It noted that the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, rebuilt with state funds, was locked up and left to decay under the Obaseki-led PDP government, while the Edo Specialist Hospital, which gulped billions under the same administration, became an empty structure with little to show in service delivery.
“Governor Okpebholo’s intervention is, therefore, not an act of “philanthropy” but a deliberate, strategic move to strengthen Edo’s healthcare system at all levels. Edo people do not care whether a hospital is tagged “state” or “federal” when emergencies arise. What they want is a functional hospital that can save lives.
“Instead of commending this bold initiative, the PDP has chosen to play petty politics, twisting facts to prepare the ground for 2027. But Edo people are not deceived. They remember clearly who abandoned their hospitals for years, and they now see a governor who is taking practical steps to fix the rot.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo remains focused and will not be distracted by the PDP’s bitterness and mischief. His priority is the well-being of Edo people, and he will continue to invest in healthcare infrastructure across the state, to ensure every citizen has access to quality medical care.
“Edo deserves truth, and the truth is simple: Governor Okpebholo is building a stronger, healthier Edo State”, the APC added.
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