It is too early to judge the Okpebholo’s administration – rights activist

•Slams Obaseki for misgovernance, failure, brutality

By Kingsley Abavo in Benin

Oruche Precious a.k.a Mama P is a rights activist and political commentator who was very critical of the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. I had a chance meeting with her in Benin, the State Capital on Thursday, 13 March, 2025 and waisted no time in seizing the opportunity to do this interview with her.

Precious in her usual element frankly bare her thoughts on the Obaseki led administration in relation to the Senator Monday Okpebholo regime in the ‘Heartbeat State. For her; “it is beyond politics, it is beyond party, and tribe; it is just humanity, we just want a better Edo!”

Full text!

Observation and opinion on the Okpebholo’s administration in relation to the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki within a 100 days in office, though Obaseki has left the stage

But I will like to correct you, though Obaseki has left the stage, his footprints are still there. The damages he did in Edo State are still visible; I am shocked that the EFCC has not picked him up. It further proves how docile that organisation is because nobody like Obaseki should be roaming free when we can see visibly the billions he misused in Edo State.

Everyone else can be deceived but we intellects are not deceived; we know the damages he did and it is not allegedly.

For the new Government, it is too early to judge them, I did not judge Obaseki until his eighth year in office, it was almost at the tail end of his second tenure that I started criticising him because he sold us promises and after years, you are coming to give us excuses, telling us stories.

We said fix our roads, renovate and build schools, do the basics for humanity and you couldn’t. You are building one edifice in the midst of plenty bushes and you want us to clap for you .

So, for this administration, so far, so good, we are still watching them but the mistake we made with Obaseki which was waiting eight years to criticise him, we will not do it with this administration. As them dey make mistake, we dey correct them. Anything we want them to do, we will pull the pressure until they do it because Edo State needs to leave where it is because if you go to other Southern States, and come back to Edo State, you will realise that Edo is backward. If you are coming from Lagos to Edo, it will look like you have just entered a village. We will not allow it to continue to be so.

Our people will not come from abroad and be ashamed to be identified as an Edo person or na so dem say this area beooo after how many years no, it is not going to happen.

This new administration just gave over hundred Hilux to the police; that is top commendation on security.

This new administration is already doing the flyover it promised, if you go through the Ikpoba hill axis, you will see the traffic hold up that is always there. So if this new administration is working on that I must commend them.

This new administration has already worked on the Ambrose Alli University, AAU that Obaseki destroyed, now has a substantive Vice Chancellor.

About how many medical doctors are about to graduate; I can’t give exact analysis on that because I don’t have the details but you can make your research.

The things it has been doing; this new administration, e nor let me curse them.

APC bad, APC bad but if them do good we praise them and if them do bad we nor go pity them.

So, it is beyond political party, it is beyond tribe; it is humanity, we just want somebody who needs the best for Edo State that’s all.

If you do well, whether you are Obaseki, for example if Asue Ighodalo takes over via the tribunal say he is given the mandate, and he comes here; we will still criticise him and if does good, we will praise him.

It is beyond politics, it is beyond party, and tribe; it is just humanity, we want Edo to be better and Edo must be great again.

At a time you said you relocated to Lagos, Abuja (interjection), I never relocated; I have always said that I am a Nigerian, I can be in Kaduna today, Abuja tomorrow.

Ok, but let me complete my question, for the kind of Obaseki was then, you temporarily changed base from Edo, let me put it properly now; are you back to base in Edo now?

I have always been in Edo even when Obaseki was there though he turned himself to pablio excobar one who cannot be corrected, anyone who criticises him, will need to run, if he doesn’t come after you legally; he charged one of us for treason; he charged Kola Edokpayi for treason so it is the kind of person he is.

If he doesn’t come after you that way, his boys or thugs will come after you. They came to my house more than seven times yes; I had to leave Edo State temporarily because of safety even in that I was still coming back after all I am an Edo woman.

But you were just sneaking in and out?

Yes, I was just sneaking in and out as e pursue me, I pursue am.

(Laughter) Now you don com back gidigba!

(Smiling) Ehnnn I dey come back but I still dey sneak in, sneak out because even this government if dem still do, I go still give dem! We just want a better Edo!

Interview ended on a hilarious note with the messages in jokes unveiling her lively personality even as a social critic and rights activist!