By Ayodele Oni
The Edo State Government has punctured the EdoBEST education reform programme introduced by former Governor Godwin Obaseki, describing it as falling short of the accolades it received during the regime.
Government alleged that despite its global praise and heavy publicity, the initiative suffered from severe teacher shortages in rural classrooms, chronic logistical failures, crumbling infrastructure, and an unsustainable top-down model that sidelined local communities.
In a press statement on Tuesday, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua described EdoBEST as a programme “birthed with perceived good intentions” but plagued by “hard implementation gaps” that left thousands of rural pupils without qualified teachers, while urban and pilot schools received disproportionate resources.
The statement dismissed yesterday’s defence statement by the factional PDP as an “emotional meltdown” designed to shield Obaseki from accountability.
It accused the past government of bequeathing a deteriorating security situation, questionable land acquisitions, unfinished flagship projects, and a culture of opacity.
The statement asserted that kidnappings and violent crime escalated sharply during Obaseki’s final years, citing the brazen abduction of PDP state chairman Dr Tony Aziegbemi in the heart of Benin GRA as proof that criminal networks had reached urban areas previously considered safe.
It added that community vigilantes were starved of logistics and coordination, forcing the Okpebholo administration into “urgent repair work.”
Describing the much-touted agricultural hub Saro Farrm, as a “flashpoint,” the government stated that local communities protested over alleged forceful acquisition of ancestral farmlands with inadequate compensation, grievances that predate the current administration.
“The Benin industrial park project was labelled largely conceptual and bogged down by legal disputes, unclear financing and community resistance, necessitating a pause for reassessment rather than political sabotage.”
Also, the statement highlighted the ongoing cultural and diplomatic row over the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), noting protests by palace supporters, postponement of major events, and questions over custodial authority of returned Benin bronzes.
It demanded that Obaseki should explain land clearances and stakeholder consultations that led to the current impasse.
On Edo GIS, the digital land registry was accused of being weaponised to obscure rather than clarify titles, with widespread complaints of overlapping allocations and sudden revocations eroding public trust.
The release challenged Obaseki and the PDP to produce “documents, community consultations, contract records, title histories and audited accounts” to prove clean governance instead of resorting to threats of partisan retaliation.
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