Edo State Government under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo has said it will probe the immediate past Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki and his political party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after rain with breeze cut broken a telecommunication mast at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, killing one of the event decorators, Pius Etim whom privileged video showed that he was apparently left to die as Pius Etim was seen in the video, trapped under the iron pole and begging for rescue for some minutes which no one apparently didn’t made effort to help him at an event organised by Governor Okpebholo to mark his 100 days in office just as same day, the rain also cut broken a very large billboard with the photograph of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu done on it with a bold caption, “Baba, Edo Is Working”; although the rain fell the political ad on a moving car but the occupant of the vehicle survived the accident.
According to AccuWeather Forecast, rain was not expected to fall in Benin City on February 20, 2025, instead, a heavy downpour was forecasted to start in the Edo State Capital on Friday February 21, 2025.
Some residents in Benin City said the rain was strange because the downpour came with a little breeze to cut broken the gigantic large billboard of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Siluko road junction in Benin City, collapsing on a red moving car; which occupant of the vehicle came out alive unhurt.
Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor in a press release issued and made available on Friday, said as presented in quotes below:
“Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has expressed deep sadness and condolences to the family of Pius Etim, a young man who tragically lost his life due to an unfortunate incident on Thursday evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, following a heavy rainfall.
Governor Okpebholo described the collapsed mast that killed Pius Etim during the heavy rainfall as “unfortunate, sad and painful.”
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a young man, Pius Etim, during the intense rainfall and collapse of a mast at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.”
Governor Okpebholo extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Pius Etim during this difficult time. “On behalf of the people of Edo State, I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Pius Etim. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this period of grief.”
Governor Okpebholo, however frowned at the attitude of leaders and members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who took to various social media platforms on Thursday night to celebrate the unfortunate death of Pius Etim.
Governor Okpebholo said such callousness and lack of empathy for the family of the deceased show that the PDP in Edo State has lost touch with the people it once governed.
Preliminary investigations show that the collapsed structure at the Samuel Ogbemudia was erected by the administration of Godwin Obaseki, which did a shabby job.
It is unfortunate that Obaseki and the PDP in Edo State, known for their lack of integrity, hired compromised contractors to erect defective structures at the stadium.
The poor job executed by the administration of Obaseki at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, which led to the unfortunate death of Pius Etim, will be investigated. The contractors or PDP members who may have handled the poor job, if found liable, will face the full wrath of the law”.
Meanwhile, in another press release, Itua said: “In his address at an event to commemorate the administration’s first 100 days in office, held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, the Governor said he has laid a strong foundation for progress across critical sectors in the State.
Noting that he met a State full of potentials, but facing challenges, Governor Okpebholo said from the first day of his administration, the focus and goal was clear – “to restore hope in leadership, create opportunities and set Edo on the path of lasting progress.”
He noted that there is so much to be done and his administration is taking decisive steps to turn its vision into reality.
Governor Okpebholo reeled out the successes of his administration in the areas of security, infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture, and education, and assured the people that more benefits are in the offing.
“We have taken significant steps in strengthening our economy by increasing our Internally Generated Revenue IGR by ₦10 billion as we took our drive to corporate bodies.
“We have done away with wasteful consultants and invested resources in strengthening public efficiency and our commitment to job creation is evident in the growth of the public service, our talent development programme where best minds contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Edo State.
“Our administration understands that SMEs are the bedrock of our economy and so, we launched interests-free loans scheme for market women, farmers and artisans which will benefit over 5,000 people in collaboration with the World Bank.
“We have disbursed grants to over 400 small business owners ensuring resilience in the face of economic challenges,” he said.
While reeling out achievements in the area of food, security and agriculture, the governor said his administration, in order to make food readily available for the people – had banned market unions who were responsible for price inflation in all the markets.
He said: “Healthcare remains a top priority within the last 100 days in office as we have established the first VVF centre in the South South, ensuring women receive specialized maternal care, run free malaria testing and free treatment across government hospitals for the next two years, upgrade health facilities across the State, ensuring quality healthcare services for Edo citizens.
“For my administration, security is not negotiable as we took bold steps by amending the anti-cultism and kidnapping laws with stiffer penalties which has led to significant reduction in cult-related violence.
“We reorganized the Edo State Security Corps and recovered over 3,500 illegal fire arms, procured 75 Toyota Hilux vehicles and 350 motorbikes to match the criminals in line with our promise to smoke them out.
“My administration is constructing major roads across the State with the historic Ramat Park flyover project which is set to ease traffic congestion in Benin City.
“Looking ahead, the future of Edo State under my leadership is bright as evidenced in the progress we have made together. With our economic development plan, we will prioritize agricultural infrastructure and investment in youths skills development as the State becomes the 5th largest economy in Nigeria.”
He noted that the plan by his administration is to drive economic growth in the next four years.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Dr Umar Ganduje commended the governor for his developmental strides in the State, saying Okpebholo is a progressive, a performer and working Governor.
Unveiling the project – SHINE – the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, said SHINE is an acronym that stands for Security, infrastructure, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Education, and it is the framework that drives the actions of Governor Okpebholo.
He noted that the actions of the Governor are backed up with plans derived from his many interactions with the people.
According to him, disengaging none State actors- consultants, the administration has been able to discover that the previous administration was appropriating ₦5.7 billion to subscribe to the e-gov platform.
The guest lecturer who is a former governor of Edo State and senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who spoke on the theme, “Practical Governance: A new Edo has risen”, said Edo is truly rising as the Okpebholo administration is working and fixing the State.
He noted that the current administration has demonstrated practical governance in the last 100 days as there are evidences to show for its achievements.
Oshiomhole added that the administration led by Okpebholo is working without signing MoUs and hiring consultants to help develop the State.
“The Governor is a man who talks less but work more and in 100 days, we have more achievements to show to Edo people. What Edo people want is for your administration to continue to create the enabling environment for them to thrive.
“Before now, the previous administration used State funds to buy weapons for thugs to disturb the peace of the people of Edo State but Senator Monday Okpebholo uses State resources to create the enabling environment for Edo people to live peacefully.
“In 100 days, the Governor provided security vehicles for security agencies in the State, revived Edo Line Transport Services after many years, what I could not achieve in 100 days in my time. In 100 days you have laid a very solid foundation for the progress, growth and development of Edo State,” he stated.
Chairman of the planing committee and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Honourable Dennis Idahosa in his welcome address said the occasion was to take stock of the achievements of the Okpebholo led administration in the last 100 days.
He said the agenda of this present administration is to turn Edo State around and return its glory through the five-point agenda of the governor which focuses on development and growth, and making the citizens priority.
“In 100 days in office, we already have evidences to show that a new Edo is rising. As we present our achievements of 100 days in office, Edo people will agree that this administration stands as a testament to practical governance as a new Edo is rising,” he said.
Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edesili Anani Okpebholo thanked the Governor for his developmental strides in Edo State, urging him to give women more appointments in his administration.
She assured that the women will give him their 100 percent vote come 2028 governorship election.
Other guests present at the occasion included the former Minister for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba; former Deputy Governors of Edo State, Lucky Imasuen, Pius Odubu and Comrade Phillip Shaibu; Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Blessing Agbebaku; traditional and religious leaders, party leaders, civil servants, politicians, civil society groups, market women and (other) stakeholders”.