As the September 21 governorship election in Edo State approaches, candidate Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has outlined a contentious stance on handling interstate road repairs. He will be contending against notable opponents, including Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a recent interview with BBC Pidgin, Okpebholo expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of interstate roads in Edo and criticized the state government’s inaction. He argued that the excuse of road ownership, which often delays repairs, is indicative of an “unserious man.”
According to Okpebholo, if elected governor, he plans to address the poor condition of these roads by leveraging state resources to initiate repairs and then seeking reimbursement from the federal government. He emphasized that his strategy would involve claiming double the expenditure incurred on road repairs from the federal authorities.
“When Adams Oshiomhole was governor, he used Edo state funds to repair federal roads for the benefit of our people,” Okpebholo said. “I have seen several governors who have done the same and successfully recouped their expenses. If I were Governor Obaseki, and I invested 10 million naira in federal roads, I would claim 20 million naira from the federal government.”
Okpebholo’s remarks are aimed at addressing the persistent issues of road maintenance and infrastructure in the state, which have been a point of contention in local politics. His proposal underscores a proactive approach to managing state-federal financial relations and improving road infrastructure in Edo.
