In response to the new charge from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the State government has spent an astounding N3.51 billion on travels over the past eight months, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has reacted.
Tenebe said in a statement that the PDP’s accusations have once again shown their incompetence and ignorance of more general economic indicators, which has had a detrimental effect on the people of Edo State during their eight years in power.
The APC administration, headed by His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, has shown budgetary discipline since replacing the PDP abstracted-MOU ‘419’ government on November 12, 2024, Tenebe claims.
Given that the governor has not taken a foreign trip since November 12, 2024, accusing the current administration of squandering ₦3.51 billion on fictitious “travels” demonstrates that the six PDP outlaws are clearly experiencing acute hallucinations linked to neurological disorders as a result of substance abuse and post-election defeat syndrome.
“The APC wants to make it known that Senator Okpebholo is a grassroots leader who is passionate about coming up with indigenous ideas to realign the different sectors for quantifiable progress as quickly as feasible.
As a result, we urge the Edo people and state allies to disregard the baseless allegations.
Following international best practices, the APC government in Edo State is solely focused on the comprehensive development of the state’s 18 local government districts.
“As was observed during the previous PDP administration, Governor Okpebholo will not persist in the practice of embezzling state funds through phony globe trotting,” Tenebe declared.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) state chapter had charged that during its eight months in power, the state government had carelessly spent ₦3.51 billion on a travel spree.
In a statement released by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary, Edo State Caretaker Committee, the PDP expressed its displeasure at the disclosure that, in the first half of 2025 alone, the administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo wasted a startling ₦3.51 billion on travel.
The National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) Capital Importation Report, which was released around the time of this waste, reveals that Edo State did not draw in any foreign investment, whereas Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano, and even Ekiti were on the list. It is both shameful and illuminating to see how Edo’s officials are opening their purses on many travels while other states are opening their doors to capital.
“This careless spending is an insult to the decent people of Edo State, who still have to put up with dilapidated schools, bad roads, inadequate medical facilities, delayed salary payments, and an epileptic power supply.”
It is intolerable that Edo’s leadership is wasting limited funds on excursions that have no real return on investment while other governments are trying to draw in foreign capital.
It’s not a jamboree in government. A leader must be wise, visionary, and dedicated to putting the interests of the people before selfish pleasures.
“Edo State should have a government that prioritizes job creation, infrastructure development, and raising the standard of living for its people rather than one that is fixated on expensive travel.
“The state administration is urged to immediately stop this unnecessary spending, make the trip details public, and reroute these money going forward to solve the severe infrastructure deficit throughout the state.
People from Edo deserve responsibility, not luxury. “Results are what we want, not receipts,” Nehikhare said.
