Edo Airline Plan Sparks Outrage As PDP Slams Okpebholo Govt For ‘Poor Judgment

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted plans by the Monday Okpebholo-led Edo State Government to establish a state-owned airline, describing the proposal as a wrong priority and a clear sign of poor governance.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, the PDP said the initiative reflected an administration out of touch with the urgent needs of Edo residents.

The opposition party argued that launching an airline at this time was impractical and insensitive, especially as the state grapples with deteriorating infrastructure, worsening urban decay and abandoned strategic projects.

“Operating an airline is capital-intensive, highly technical and has proven disastrous for most sub-national governments in Nigeria,” the PDP stated.

The party noted that such a venture would demand enormous capital outlay, sustained subsidies and strong operational capacity—requirements it said the present administration does not possess.

The PDP also decried the state of Benin City, saying it falls far below the standard of a modern state capital.

According to the statement, roads across the metropolis are largely impassable, urban planning has broken down, drainage infrastructure has been neglected, and basic municipal services are either inadequate or nonexistent.

The party described the situation as an embarrassment for a city of Benin’s historical significance and vast potential.

It further accused the government of neglecting key projects inherited from previous administrations, citing the Museum of West African Art, the Radisson Hotel project, the Ossiomo Power Project and EdoGIS as initiatives that have either stalled or lost momentum.

“These setbacks undermine development, job creation, revenue growth and investor confidence,” the PDP said.

The party also criticised the ongoing flyover projects at Ramat Park and Adesuwa Junction, describing them as costly ventures that fail to tackle the state’s fundamental challenges.

According to the PDP, Edo State requires holistic road rehabilitation, effective drainage systems, improved traffic management and comprehensive urban renewal rather than what it termed “headline-driven spectacles.”

Against this background, the party described the proposed airline as a distraction lacking any sound economic justification.

“When roads are barely passable, public transport is disorganised, healthcare facilities are overstretched and schools lack basic infrastructure, proposing an airline reflects poor judgment,” the statement said.

The PDP urged the state government to channel scarce resources into sectors that would directly improve the lives of residents, including road and drainage infrastructure, flood control, education, healthcare, power and water supply, security and job creation.

“Edo State does not need an airline flying above its problems; it needs a government willing to confront them head-on,” the party added.

The PDP therefore called on the Edo State Government to shelve the airline plan and focus on what it described as realistic, people-oriented development priorities.

“Anything short of this will only deepen the perception of an administration lacking direction, competence and a clear development agenda,” the statement concluded.