New expressway initiated by Obaseki, PDP counters Okpebholo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo, has countered the state government’s statement on the ongoing reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, as a product of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The party in a statement on Friday by its Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare, berated Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, for giving credit for the reconstruction of the road, describing it as not only dishonest and laughable, but a gross insult to the intelligence of Edo people.

He noted that the project was initiated, structured, and finalized under the immediate past PDP-led administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki in January, 2024.

Read the full text of the statement:

“When a government’s achievements exist only in press statements, it inevitably resorts to propaganda, half-truths, and outright falsehoods to cover its glaring failures. This is precisely the case with the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration, whose only visible milestone after nine months at the Dennis Osadebey Avenue remains a string of disjointed press briefings and photo ops — all designed to create a false impression of progress.

“It has become necessary to set the record straight and expose this blatant distortion of facts by the APC-led government in Edo State.

“Contrary to the propaganda being churned out by the Okpebholo administration, the Benin-Asaba Expressway reconstruction project was initiated, structured, and finalized under the immediate past PDP-led administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki. In January 2024, Governor Obaseki signed a landmark N228 billion concession agreement with Triple A Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, InfraCorp, and Africa Plus Partners for the comprehensive redevelopment of the expressway. The project falls under the Federal Government’s Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

“This was not just another government contract — it was a well-thought-out Public-Private Partnership (PPP), anchored on a solid funding and implementation framework aimed at reducing pressure on public finances while unlocking long-term economic gains for Edo and Nigeria at large.

“Only a leader with vision, capacity, and competence — like Obaseki — could conceptualize and midwife such a project. It is therefore shameful for a government that had no role in its conception to now desperately seek to appropriate the glory.

“The strategic importance of the Benin-Asaba Expressway — linking the South-West, South-South, and South-East corridors — cannot be overstated. While the Federal Government provided regulatory approvals (as is required for federal roads), it stalled the project’s progress until it had successfully installed its preferred government in Edo State. This political maneuvering, at the expense of timely infrastructure delivery, speaks volumes of APC’s priorities.

“Governor Okpebholo’s staged inspection tours and photo ops do not translate into actual work. It is baffling — but not surprising — that he would rather claim ownership of a project far beyond his conceptual and administrative capabilities than initiate any of his own.

“We understand his dilemma: there are masters to please and people to deceive. But Edo people are wiser.

“We urge Governor Okpebholo to focus on delivering quality, impactful, and people-oriented projects — not chasing shadows or basking in borrowed achievements.”