Okpebholo laments deplorable conditions of schools

• College staff, pensioners petition governor over establishment law
• Edo PDP tackles Oshiomhole over collapsed specialist hospital

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, embarked on an inspection tour of schools in the state yesterday, frowning at the dilapidated structures, poor sanitary, security, and learning conditions in the schools.

The governor, who was accompanied by the Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Paddy Iyamu, and other top government functionaries, visited Eweka Primary School, Obazagbon, Oroma Primary School, Amagba; Amagba Secondary School and Uyiosa Primary School, Uzebu, all in Oredo Local Council of Edo State.

Okpebholo expressed dismay at the previous government’s “Edobest” programme, saying that rather than improving the people’s fortunes, the initiative deprived the Edo child of a comfortable learning environment.

At Eweka Primary School, Obazagbon, the governor said: “Look at the situation of this school; it is terrible as children are here, and this is the so-called EdoBest. For me, this is not acceptable. My administration will fix this school.

“This school must be fenced and, by next Friday, I will be here to see the level of work done because work will commence and in the next few days, you will see transformation in this school.”

Meanwhile, staff and pensioners of the defunct College of Education, Ekiadolor, in Ovia North East Local Council of Edo State, have sent a petition to the governor urging him to repeal the law establishing the then College of Education, Ekiadolor, by former governor Godwin Obaseki without making provisions for the welfare of staff and pensioners of the institution.”

According to the aggrieved parties in their petition, which they routed through the office of the state Head of Service, “This happened five years ago. We made several representations to the government, stating clearly the pains and hardships we have been subjected to given this action using all known means available to us.

HOWEVER, the Edo State’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, son of former governor Adams Oshiomhole, accusing him of superintended a sham construction of the Edo Specialist Hospital where a section collapsed due to structural defects, killing two Edo citizens years ago.

The PDP, while reacting to the comment by Okpebholo describing the recent commissioning of Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City by Obaseki as a scam, faulted the governor and his Commissioner for Health.

The PDP noted that the Commissioner lacks the moral grounds to speak on the standards of a hospital, following his criticism of the project alleging some structural defects.

According to the Commissioner, this building was commissioned by the last administration; but coming here it is like an abandoned building on the other side.

“I came here with a team of doctors, surgeons and other medical experts so that they have their input, and there were some structural defects we saw. We alerted the contractor and promised to correct those errors,” Oshiomhole said.

In a statement, Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, said Okpebholo and his Commissioner for Health lack the moral grounds to speak on standards of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital or any other hospital in the state.