Momoh Umar Momoh, Benin
The Edo State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo over the incessant suspension of political appointees, describing the actions as a case of “a workman at war with his tools.
Stallion Times reports that the State Government had on 29 April 2025 announced the suspension of Dr. Caulson Osoikhia Oahimire, Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHCDA).
He was suspended over alleged “grave financial infractions.”
Reacting to the suspension, Chris Osa Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, who condemned the development in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday liken it to a tragicomic drama stuck on replay,
A statement titled, “Okpebholo’s Endless Suspension Chronicles: A Case of a Workman at War with His Tools” said five political appointees have so far been suspended for alleged financial fraud, infractions and among others.
He listed the appointees so far suspended by the Governor since assumption of office on November 12, 2024 as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Samson Osagie, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Hon Damian Lawani, the Head of the Public Safety Response Team, Kelly Okungbowa, the Commander of the State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin, the CEO of FEWMA, Ahmed Momoh, and now Dr. Oahimire.
He opined that the list of the suspended appointees reads like a script from a badly managed soap opera, noting that what we are witnessing is not governance, but a chaos masquerading as reform.
Parts of the statement read; “Like a tragicomic drama stuck on replay, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s tenure has become synonymous with a string of headline-grabbing suspensions of his top cabinet members each more bewildering than the last.
“The latest in this parade of purges is Dr. Caulson Osoikhia Oahimire, Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, suspended over alleged “grave financial infractions.”
“Since assuming the office, Okpebholo has embarked on an unrelenting spree of suspensions, throwing one official after another under the bus, often amid sensational accusations of corruption and misconduct.
“Yet, in all this noise, Edo people have seen no credible investigations, no legal conclusions, no public accountability—only whispers of quiet reinstatements through the backdoor.
“From his own Commissioner for Justice and Chief Law Officer, Samson Osagie, to the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Damian Lawani; the Head of the Public Safety Response Team, Kelly Okungbowa; the Commander of the State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin; the CEO of FEWMA, Ahmed Momoh; and now Dr. Oahimire—the list reads like a script from a badly managed soap opera. What we are witnessing is not governance, it is chaos masquerading as reform.
“Edo people are left asking: Is this simply a case of a workman constantly quarrelling with his tools? Or did Okpebholo knowingly assemble a team riddled with questionable characters—people who see public office not as a platform for service, but as a shortcut to self-enrichment?
“What is clear is that this endless cycle of suspensions has laid bare a troubling reality: either the Governor is completely out of his depth and incapable of managing his own appointees, or he is overseeing an administration deeply compromised by rot, failure, and corruption.
“If these appointees were handpicked or imposed by his party’s power brokers, the time has come for Okpebholo to take full responsibility. He must clean the house—decisively—and assemble a new cabinet built on competence, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the progress of Edo State.
“Enough of the drama. Edo deserves serious, focused, and transparent leadership”, he said.
