Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has said that his administration would not embark on reckless borrowing.
Okpebholo said he understood the importance of financial prudence, transparency, and accountability.
Insisting that his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, left a debt of N600bn, Governor Okpebholo said he has started paying liabilities he inherited.
Okpebholo listed the controversial Radisson Hotel project as one of the major financial burdens inherited from Obaseki.
“That single project consumed about ₦30 billion, yet Edo owns only 20 percent. We are paying ₦380 million monthly on that debt. Still, we are determined to clear these obligations and free Edo from financial captivity.
“Edo’s resources don’t belong to me. We are managing funds prudently, paying debts, and restoring fiscal discipline. Despite the ₦600 billion debt left by the previous administration, we have started paying down those liabilities,” he said.
The Edo Governor, who spoke ahead of his one year in office anniversary, said his administration successfully subdued and defeated violent cultism in the state through strategic security interventions, intelligence coordination, and political will.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo, said the battle against cultism was one of the most decisive and uncompromising campaigns of his administration.
“We will not commercialize killing. Every life in Edo matters to me. Our fight against cultism, kidnapping, and all forms of violent crime is total and irreversible.
“We have worked closely with the police, the DSS, and other security agencies to restore peace across the state. Today, Edo is safer, calmer, and freer than it has been in many years.”
“Serving Edo people is the most important thing to me. What drives us is not the next election but the next generation. We came to change the narrative and restore order after years of fear, neglect, and decay,” he said.
According to him, Edo State has made significant progress in tackling insecurity and rebuilding public confidence, thanks to a renewed focus on community collaboration and professional policing.
“Before Christmas last year, we witnessed multiple cult-related killings. We stepped in immediately because the life of every citizen is sacred. Since then, our coordinated approach has restored calm. Today, nightlife is back in Benin and other parts of the state,” he noted.
Governor Okpebholo disclosed that his administration has heavily invested in security operations by providing vehicles, logistics, and operational support to law enforcement agencies.
“We have made Edo safe again. People now walk freely at night. That is what good governance is about; protecting lives and giving citizens confidence in their government,” he said.
The Governor said his administration inherited a state of decay but refused to be deterred.
“We came into government empty. The last administration left behind dilapidated schools, broken roads, and a collapsing public service. But we didn’t dwell on complaints; we acted. We started fixing roads, rebuilding schools, and restoring public institutions,” he said.
He noted that in less than a year, his administration has rebuilt schools across the three senatorial districts, restoring the morale of teachers and trust among parents.
“When we took over, public schools had leaking roofs and no chairs or desks. That was the EdoBEST of the last government. Today, we have reconstructed and revitalized schools, and enrollment has surged because people now believe in the system again,” he affirmed.
On agriculture, the Governor said his commitment to food security remains unshaken.
“Agriculture is central to our development plan. In 2026, we will open up more farmlands and encourage our people to return to farming. The President is passionate about agriculture, and Edo will align with that vision to boost food supply and economic growth,” he said.
Okpebholo said his government paid outstanding entitlements owed to teachers, doctors, pensioners, and staff of the College of Education, Ekiadolor.
“We are settling those debts in tranches because justice must be done to the workers who suffered under the previous regime.
“We are creating employment, boosting productivity, and attracting investors. Edo will soon be a model of economic renewal in Nigeria,” he added.