Ehimare Backs Okpebholo, Challenges Ogbidi Over ‘4,800 Appointments’ Claim

Urbanscoopnews reporting

Dr. Anslem Ojeaga Ehimare, JP, has thrown his weight behind the administration of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, describing the criticism credited to Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi over the reported appointment of about 4,800 Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants as an exercise in selective outrage that requires greater scrutiny.

Ehimare’s position followed a report published by the online platform DailyFrontNews, in which Ogbidi, under the aegis of the HSD Movement, reportedly rejected the proposed appointments, alleging that they could constitute an unnecessary expansion of government and a politically motivated deployment of taxpayers’ resources ahead of the 2027 elections.

But Ehimare, while acknowledging the right of citizens and civil society organisations to scrutinise government policies, said public criticism must be guided by facts, consistency and the same standard applied to successive administrations.

He said the central issue raised by Ogbidi’s intervention was not whether the Okpebholo administration should be questioned, but whether those questions were being asked from a position of principle or political convenience.

According to him, it was difficult to reconcile Ogbidi’s current position with the extensive political appointment structure associated with the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, which, he said, involved thousands of political aides and appointments extending to Edo people in the diaspora.

Ehimare therefore challenged Ogbidi to make public the advice or intervention he offered the Obaseki administration at the time if he genuinely believed that large-scale political appointments constituted an unacceptable burden on Edo taxpayers.

“Where was this voice when the previous administration operated its own extensive political appointment structure? Where was the warning about the cost of governance? Where was the demand for clearly defined portfolios, measurable responsibilities and financial accountability?” Ehimare asked.

He added: “If Comrade Ogbidi had genuine concerns about excessive political appointments then, let him show Edo people his statement, petition, press release or public intervention advising Governor Godwin Obaseki against such appointments. That is a fair question for anyone presenting himself today as an advocate of fiscal responsibility.”

Ehimare stressed, however, that his intervention should not be interpreted as a call for the Okpebholo administration to operate without scrutiny.

On the contrary, he said the Governor should ensure that every political appointment under his administration is purposeful, properly structured and capable of producing measurable value for the people of Edo State.

He said political appointments, when properly conceived, could strengthen grassroots engagement, facilitate communication between government and communities, support policy implementation and provide the administration with specialised assistance in areas where such expertise is required.

The real test, he argued, should therefore not simply be the number of appointments but whether the positions have clearly defined functions, appropriate remuneration, measurable deliverables and adequate oversight.

Ehimare also questioned the financial figures contained in Ogbidi’s statement, particularly the claim that the reported appointments could cost the state close to N1 billion monthly.

He said such a figure, if presented as a fact, should be accompanied by a transparent breakdown of the proposed salaries, allowances, logistics and other recurrent commitments before it can reasonably be used to indict the government.

“A figure as substantial as N1 billion monthly cannot simply be thrown into the public space without the underlying calculation. Edo people deserve facts. What is the remuneration per appointee? What allowances are included? What administrative costs have been calculated? Until those questions are answered, the figure remains an allegation or projection, not an established government expenditure,” he said.

He was equally critical of the suggestion that girlfriends of political party chieftains could dominate the proposed appointments, describing the allegation as grave and one that should be backed by evidence.

Ehimare challenged anyone making such allegations to produce the evidence, names or documentation supporting them rather than relying on insinuation.

“If there is evidence of nepotism or political patronage, let it be presented. If there is a list, let the public see it. But serious allegations should not be substituted for evidence simply because an issue is politically convenient,” he said.

The public affairs commentator also rejected the attempt to present the HSD Movement’s position as the collective voice of Edo State, noting that the state’s electorate consists of millions of citizens with diverse opinions and political affiliations.

He said Edo people were sophisticated enough to assess the performance of any administration independently and would ultimately judge the Okpebholo government by what it delivers rather than by the volume of political commentary surrounding it.

According to him, the issues that should occupy the attention of the electorate include infrastructure, healthcare, education, employment, security, economic empowerment, investment and improvements in the general welfare of citizens.

He argued that these were the areas in which the Okpebholo administration should be challenged to deliver—and where its performance should ultimately be measured.

Ehimare further cautioned political actors against assuming that the appointment of aides automatically translates into electoral support ahead of 2027.

He said appointments, whether large or small, could not purchase the conscience of Edo voters, insisting that performance would remain the most important currency in democratic politics.

At the same time, he rejected what he described as the premature conclusion that the reported appointments were designed principally for electoral mobilisation.

According to him, unless the government formally discloses the structure and purpose of the proposed appointments, it would be premature to declare their motive or financial implications as settled facts.

He urged Governor Okpebholo to remain focused on his development agenda while ensuring transparency in any appointment process that is eventually approved.

Ehimare also called for a more honest conversation about the cost of governance in Edo, insisting that the same standard must apply irrespective of the political party controlling the Government House.

He said political accountability loses its moral authority when it is activated only against political opponents.

“If political appointments were excessive under a previous administration, let us have the courage to say so. If they were justified, let us explain why. But what we cannot have is one standard when our friends are in government and another when our opponents take over,” he said.

He went further to challenge Ogbidi to demonstrate that his current position was rooted in a longstanding principle rather than a reaction to the emergence of the Okpebholo administration.

Ehimare said that if Ogbidi had previously benefited from the political appointment structure of the former administration, as has been alleged, the matter should be clarified publicly.

He was, however, careful to distinguish allegation from established fact, saying that the appropriate response was for Ogbidi to address the matter himself and make his record clear.

“Anyone can change a position, and there is nothing wrong with admitting that one was wrong in the past. What is troubling is selective memory—the attempt to condemn today what one tolerated, supported or benefited from yesterday,” Ehimare stated.

He said Edo State deserved political discourse based on evidence, consistency and public interest rather than partisan calculations.

According to him, Governor Okpebholo should neither be shielded from legitimate criticism nor subjected to criticism based on assumptions and unverified claims.

“Governor Okpebholo must account to Edo people. That is non-negotiable. But his critics must also account for the standards they apply. Accountability cannot be selective, and fiscal responsibility cannot become a political weapon used only when a particular party is in power,” he said.

Ehimare ultimately urged Edo residents to remain focused on the substance of governance, stressing that the administration’s success or failure would be determined by its capacity to translate policies and public expenditure into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

He maintained that if the proposed appointments were ultimately approved, every appointee should have a clearly defined mandate and be held accountable for performance.

But he equally insisted that those questioning the appointments must bring the same intellectual honesty to their criticism that they demand from government.

“Edo does not need political actors who discover accountability only when the occupant of Government House changes. We need people who will speak the truth when it is convenient and when it is inconvenient. We need criticism without hypocrisy and accountability without double standards,” Ehimare said.

For him, the debate surrounding the reported appointments should not be reduced to the politics of 2027, but should become an opportunity to establish a more transparent and accountable approach to political appointments in Edo State—one that recognises the legitimate needs of government while ensuring that public resources are deployed responsibly.

As the debate continues, Ehimare’s position is that the Okpebholo administration should remain focused on delivering its mandate, while those challenging its policies should equally be prepared to subject their arguments to the same test of facts, consistency and public accountability.

StreetBuzzMedia