Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has described the comments made by the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, as both misleading and unfair to the current government.

In a lengthy statement titled “One Year of Truth, Deliverance and Restoration in Edo State,” Ize-Iyamu said the response became necessary so that “the truth is preserved” and residents are not left with what he called a distorted picture of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s achievements.

He argued that Aziegbemi’s remarks unintentionally drew attention to the shortcomings of the previous administration, especially in areas where the present government has made, in his view, clear gains.

One example he highlighted was the Benin flyover. According to him, the former government had eight years to begin the project but did nothing, while construction under Okpebholo “is already rising visibly and progressing steadily toward completion.” He said the flyover would ease the heavy traffic that often builds up around the Ikpoba Hill corridor.

Ize-Iyamu also reaffirmed the legitimacy of Governor Okpebholo’s mandate, insisting that “Edo people rejected Obaseki, rejected PDP propaganda, and embraced a governor who is humble enough to serve and strong enough to deliver.”

He explained that although he challenged the outcomes of the 2016 and 2020 elections, he respected the Supreme Court’s final decisions and avoided publicly attacking the government throughout those eight years.

On the issue of infrastructure, he accused former Governor Godwin Obaseki of focusing on presentations rather than on physical projects.

In contrast, he said Okpebholo has begun major works, including flyovers at Ramat Park and Adesuwa Junction, in addition to widespread road rehabilitation.

He added that the present administration has taken on some federal and local government roads “because a bad road does not ask who owns it before it affects Edo’s lives.”

Turning to education, he argued that the previous reforms were more about slogans than real results. He stated that the government has now recruited 5,000 teachers and started improving school buildings across the state.

He also listed upgrades in tertiary institutions, noting that AAU Ekpoma now receives a monthly allocation of ₦500 million and that governance structures have been restored. He added that Usen Polytechnic and Edo State University, Uzairue, have also been revived under the current leadership.

On the economic front, Ize-Iyamu stated that Okpebholo has blocked revenue leakages, removed layers of middlemen, and restarted the Edo Line service, which now operates more than 100 buses.

He credited the governor with strengthening security, supporting community policing efforts, encouraging night patrols and taking a tougher stance against cult-related violence.

He further pointed out several social welfare programmes, including a ₦1 billion intervention for traders and another ₦1 billion set aside as bursary support for students.

Speaking on agriculture, he described the former ESOP scheme as exploitative, saying the government has switched to supplying real equipment, direct grants to farmers and community-based empowerment initiatives.

He also faulted the handling of the MOWAA project under the past administration, insisting that it was tied to private interests despite the involvement of public funds.

Throughout the statement, Ize-Iyamu praised Okpebholo’s approach to leadership, saying the governor has avoided needless battles with institutions and political actors while promoting peace and cooperation.

Taking a final jab at Aziegbemi, he said, “Those who supervised eight years of emptiness will always tremble before one year of progress.”

He rounded off his assessment by declaring, “In just one year, Governor Monday Okpebholo has achieved more for Edo people than Obaseki achieved in eight grievous years,” adding that the administration has completed more than 30 projects that residents can see for themselves.

He closed with a call for unity, saying the state is “finally on the path of restoration, fairness, and responsible leadership,” and prayed for steady progress in the months ahead.

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