The political landscape in Edo State has recently been heated, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pushing back against assertions made by Governor Monday Okpebholo and his Health Commissioner, Dr. Cyril Adam Oshiomhole. The contention arose following the inauguration of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, a 270-bed facility in Benin City, which was launched by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the end of Godwin Obaseki’s administration. The current administration has claimed that the hospital was inadequately constructed and not ready for public use, alleging that the previous governor only made superficial improvements, such as painting and installing air conditioning units. This situation has led to a vigorous exchange of accusations between the new administration and Obaseki’s supporters as they debate the hospital’s quality and impact on the state’s health care system.
Governor Okpebholo’s visit to the hospital revealed what he termed as ongoing construction work and a lack of necessary medical equipment. In light of these findings, he vowed to rectify what he described as structural errors to position the hospital adequately for community service. According to the governor, the previous administration’s official opening of the facility was merely a facade, intended to mislead the public into thinking that it was operational and fully functional. He characterized the previous administration’s actions as “unacceptable” and a form of “cheating on Edo people,” suggesting that the ongoing issues at the facility demonstrated a lack of diligence from Obaseki during his term in office.
In a direct rebuttal, Obaseki characterized the criticisms from the Okpebholo administration as unfounded and a diversion from the newfound government’s failure to implement any concrete plans for state development. In a statement, he expressed frustration over persistent unfounded allegations aimed at tarnishing his legacy. The former governor emphasized that such attacks were a tactic to obscure the new administration’s deficiencies, asserting that the previous administration had indeed made significant upgrades to the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, contributing positively to the healthcare framework in Edo State.
The PDP, in its defense of Obaseki, chastised the Okpebholo administration for questioning the integrity of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, noting the irony given Dr. Oshiomhole’s family ties to past construction failures during his father’s leadership. The party highlighted the hospital’s established reputation as one of the top healthcare facilities in the South-South region, attributing its success to substantial investments made during Obaseki’s tenure. They called the Okpebholo administration’s criticism childish and a misguided attempt to diminish the hospital’s contributions for political gain. The PDP continued to assert that the positive healthcare impacts of the hospital were undeniable, evidencing the effectiveness of Obaseki’s investments and vision in the healthcare sector.
Osagie, Obaseki’s media adviser, echoed this sentiment by asserting that no amount of falsehoods could damage the former governor’s achievements in office. He asserted that Obaseki had reshaped the state’s healthcare delivery, enhancing the lives of its citizens and fostering an environment conducive to growth and development. His statement positioned Obaseki as a transformative leader whose initiatives had lasting value, irrespective of the current administration’s attempt to discredit them. Osagie urged the new government to stop their purportedly baseless attacks and focus instead on delivering results that would benefit the people of Edo State.
In summary, the conflict surrounding the Stella Obasanjo Hospital encapsulates broader themes of political rivalry and accountability in Edo State’s administration. The new government, led by Okpebholo, has faced accusations of being directionless, with critics suggesting that their focus on damaging the previous administration’s reputation is a diversion from their own policy shortcomings. Conversely, the PDP and former Governor Obaseki have framed this dispute as petty politics, asserting the legacy and improvements of their administration in healthcare. Ultimately, this conflict underscores the ongoing challenges of governance and public perception in the state’s political arena, highlighting the strategic maneuvering often employed by opposing parties in response to critiques and accountability measures.
