Okpebholo alleged that Obaseki who governed the state on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not distribute the books to students because they featured President Tinubu’s image on the cover.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has accused his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, of deliberately withholding books donated to the state by President Bola Tinubu from students in the state.
Okpebholo alleged that Obaseki who governed the state on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not distribute the books to students because they featured President Tinubu’s image on the cover.
He therefore launched a state-wide initiative to remodel public schools and distribute the books.
Okpebholo in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, announced that the first phase of the remodeling project would address eight schools across the state’s three senatorial districts.
While overseeing the distribution of notebooks, textbooks, and other educational materials in Benin City, the state capital, Okpebholo announced that the books would be distributed across all 18 local government areas in the state.
Describing the previous government’s refusal to distribute the books as “an act of wickedness,” the governor emphasized that the delay in distributing these educational resources was unjustified.
Accompanied by the Edo State Universal Education Board Executive Chairman, Paddy Iyamu, former Oredo Federal Constituency Representative Omoregie Ogbiede-Ihama, and other senior officials, Okpebholo visited New Era College in Benin City, a special school for young athletes built by the late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, former governor of Old Bendel State.
The governor stated, “These books you see here were donated by President Bola Tinubu for the children of Edo, but the previous administration refused to distribute them because of the President’s image on the covers.
“I want to thank President Tinubu for his generosity, and I believe the refusal to distribute these books was an act of wickedness.
“The warehouse is full of these books, but they were kept away from the children because of petty political reasons. Today, we are here to distribute them to our children.”
He continued, “At New Era College, which is in the heart of the city, we saw firsthand the neglect of the education system. We entered classrooms where children were sitting on the floor.
“I am directing the SUBEB chairman to begin preparations for the full renovation of this school. This school belongs to the children of Edo.”
The governor further criticized the former administration for denying children access to the donated books while failing to provide basic amenities, such as proper seating. He described the previous administration’s actions as “wickedness of the highest order.”
“We are committed to renovating this school, and within the next few weeks, you will begin to see significant improvements,” Okpebholo added.
The governor further stated, “The state of the school facilities is deplorable, and the previous governor failed to invest in the development of the state’s education system.
“It is unacceptable. Withholding these books from the children was a wrongful act, and it is clear that the education system under the previous governor was not in the best interest of our children.”
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