Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has alleged that the former administration led by Godwin Obaseki withheld books donated to the state by President Bola Tinubu for student use because the President’s image is printed on the covers.
Speaking in Benin City while overseeing the distribution of notebooks, textbooks, and other instructional materials, Okpebholo described the previous government’s decision as “an act of wickedness.” He also announced a statewide initiative to remodel public schools and ensure the distribution of educational resources.
“These books you see here were donated by the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for Edo children,” Okpebholo stated. “But the immediate past administration did not distribute them because the President’s face is printed on the books. I want to thank the President for his kind gesture, and for me, the action of the former administration is an act of wickedness. Today, we are here to distribute the books to our children.”
The governor made these remarks while inspecting New Era College, a special institution for young athletes built by the late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, a former governor of Old Bendel State. During his visit, Okpebholo expressed dismay at the state of the school’s infrastructure.
“This is New Era College at the center of the city,” Okpebholo said. “See for yourself the rot in the system. We just entered a classroom where our children were sitting on the floor. I am giving the SUBEB chairman an instruction to put all the modalities in place for the commencement of the reconstruction of this school. This school is for Edo children.”
Accompanied by top government officials, including Paddy Iyamu, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and Omoregie Ogbiede-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives, Okpebholo vowed to transform the education system in Edo State.
Read also: NASC appoints Andrew Nwoba Senate Clerk, redeploys others
“This administration is coming back to renovate the school,” he said. “In the next few weeks, you will start seeing transformation in this school in terms of reconstruction. The former governor refused Edo children the use of these books provided by the President, but he could not provide seats for the children to sit comfortably while learning. Keeping these books away from our children is wickedness. His actions were wrong. He said he had developed the education system using Edobest, but what we see here today is not the best for our children.”
Iyamu confirmed the governor’s directive, stating that the books would be distributed across all 18 local government areas in the state. “The governor has given a matching order for the books to be distributed across the state, and we will ensure this is carried out strictly,” Iyamu said.
The initiative forms part of the first phase of a broader plan to remodel eight schools in the state, one from each senatorial district, signaling Okpebholo’s commitment to revitalizing education in Edo State.
Join the conversation
Opinions
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
Donate Now
