Okpebholo’s N100bn Loan: You don’t speak for us – PDP caretaker committee slams Aziegbemi

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The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), currently overseen by a Caretaker Committee, has disassociated itself from comments made by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, who was referred to as the “factional acting chairman” of the party. Aziegbemi had issued a statement condemning Governor Monday Okpebholo’s plans to secure a N100 billion loan for infrastructure development.

The state legislature had earlier approved the governor’s request on Tuesday, granting permission to obtain the loan from First Bank of Nigeria Plc through a contractor financing arrangement.

In his statement released on Wednesday, Aziegbemi strongly opposed the loan proposal, labeling it as “unacceptable, reckless, and dangerous.”

He further criticized the current administration, alleging that Governor Okpebholo had significantly increased the state’s debt burden. According to Aziegbemi, the governor was about to take on N100 billion in debt in under eight months—nearly matching the N112 billion debt accrued over 34 years by all past Edo governments combined.

But the PDP Caretaker Committee, through its Publicity Secretary, Bob-Manuel Umoru, issued a counter-statement on Friday, stating that Aziegbemi does not represent the views of the party.

Umoru referred to Aziegbemi as part of a faction aligned with the “now defunct” group led by former governor Godwin Obaseki. He accused Aziegbemi of remaining silent during Obaseki’s administration despite alleged poor governance and questioned his credibility to now challenge the current government.

Parts of the statement read, “The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to categorically disassociate itself from a recent statement credited to one Tony Aziegbemi, the self-styled factional chairman of the now-defunct Obaseki camp. For the avoidance of doubt, Tony Aziegbemi is not the Acting Chairman of Edo PDP and lacks the legitimacy, moral standing, and party endorsement to speak on our behalf.

“It is both amusing and insulting that a man who stood idly by while Edo State was looted under Obaseki’s eight years of catastrophic misrule now attempts to preach financial prudence and offer unsolicited analysis on government borrowing. Where was his voice when his principal was plunging Edo State into unprecedented debt with nothing to show? No roads. No industries. No infrastructure. No transparency.

“Mr. Aziegbemi’s empty rhetoric failed to mention the total sum Obaseki borrowed, nor could he identify a single landmark project tied to those funds. The loans allegedly taken for agriculture, infrastructure, and other ‘classified’ purposes vanished into a black hole leaving Edo people to bear the burden of debt without a trace of development.

“Tony Aziegbemi’s outdated propaganda belongs in the graveyard of Obaseki’s failed legacy, not in the public discourse of today’s Edo. He should be more concerned about helping his former principal account for the hundreds of millions of dollars that disappeared under his watch.”

The statement stressed that the PDP in Edo State is not against Okpebholo’s plans to secure loans to finance infrastructural projects.

But it urged the governor to ensure that the loans are utilized efficiently and transparently, for the benefit of Edo people.

“Let it be clearly stated: the Edo PDP is not opposed to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s efforts to secure loans for meaningful infrastructural development. We urge him to ensure such loans are transparently utilized and directed at projects that will tangibly improve the lives of our people.

“As a party, we are committed to responsible opposition, constructive, not bitter. We will hold the ruling party accountable, demand performance, and ensure that the promises made to the good people of Edo State are not forgotten. But we will not allow impostors and political relics to speak for us.

“The Edo PDP belongs to the people, not to those who sold it for crumbs,” the statement added.

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