Obaseki’s Hypocrisy Unveiled: Chris Nehikhare’s Clumsy Defense And Edo State’s Palliative Paradox

Obaseki’s Hypocrisy Unveiled: Chris Nehikhare’s Clumsy Defense And Edo State’s Palliative ParadoxYesterday, on Channels TV’s Morning Brief Show, Edo State Commissioner for Information, Chris Nehikhare, stumbled into a web of contradictions. In a misguided attack on the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh FNSE, Nehikhare accused him of being disconnected from the realities of the #EndBadGovernance protests and the state’s dire situation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Nehikhare’s attempt to deflect criticism only served to spotlight the hypocrisy of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration. With a tone that suggested he was struggling with an uncomfortable truth, Nehikhare admitted that Edo State had indeed received trailers of rice from the federal government and over 10 billion naira from the 570 billion naira intervention grant. Yet, instead of addressing the pressing issues, he lamented the state’s struggles in a manner that seemed more like a reluctant confession.

The irony is staggering. While Obaseki and his administration have been vocally critical of the federal government’s economic policies and dismissed palliatives as ineffective, Nehikhare revealed that the state government had allocated a whopping 1 billion naira to the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for food items. This blatant contradiction raises a crucial question: Why is the Edo State government, which denounces rice palliatives as inadequate, spending a billion naira on the same type of aid?

Moreover, when pressed about the utilization of the substantial revenue boosts from the removal of the fuel subsidy and increased internal revenue and Federal allocations, Nehikhare’s responses were less than convincing. He claimed that significant expenditures were directed towards free transportation systems, suggesting that funds were used for diesel. However, Edo residents know that the Comrade buses—once a hallmark of Obaseki’s administration—are now largely defunct due to poor maintenance. The government’s claims of spending on diesel for these buses are suspect, given the visible decline in their operational status.

The Edo State government’s failure to show concrete benefits from the massive revenues it has received—through FAAC, local government allocations, international grants, and loans—while simultaneously ridiculing federal palliatives, exposes a troubling pattern. Instead of focusing on improving the lives of Edo citizens, the administration appears more concerned with political grandstanding and ineffectual governance.

In contrast, President Tinubu’s federal administration is taking tangible steps to alleviate citizen hardships by introducing student loans, slashing rice prices, and liberalizing key sectors to attract investment. Obaseki’s government, meanwhile, is mired in hypocrisy, repackaging criticized palliatives to win political favor while neglecting real progress in Edo State.

Obaseki’s administration exemplifies how some governors have failed their states by prioritizing political maneuvering over the genuine welfare of their citizens. It’s time for Edo residents to demand accountability from leaders who are more adept at criticizing than delivering results.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah writes in from Abuja