One Year Anniversary: Okpebholo Has Achieved Nothing – Imasogie—Says ADC May Join PDP

Etose Dickson Imasogie is a long-standing chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is also one of the biggest philanthropists and farmers in Edo State. In this exclusive interview with Raphael Okhiria, Etose Imasogie took a cursory look into the Okpebholo-led administration, which was one year old on November 12, 2025, saying the administration has performed abysmally. He also spoke on other issues, including insecurity and the problems plaguing the PDP.

Happy reading:

Accessing the performance of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s government?

Anything negative I say about him now, people will say because I’m in the opposition party, but the truth is that I do not really know what he’s doing. The major thing somebody can talk about now is the flyover. With the way I look at that flyover, if it’s a state government thing, I would say it’s a waste because he should have used the money to repair so many roads, and take care of the flood ravaging the state. I’m very sure the flooding must have reached the government house now. Which road, even in Benin City now,
is good? We are talking about flyovers. About a week ago, I heard he’s starting the second flyover on Sapele Road. It’s like a jamboree thing, if he (Okpebholo) is the one doing it. So it will be hard for me to comment on his administration without condemning his government. I don’t want to go too far.

Sir, are you saying that the government has not done anything good at all throughout his one year in office?

You are in a better position to tell me. One, the first thing that is bothering us now, is the kidnapping thing. If the government cannot guarantee the safety of life and property of its people, what else is it going to give to the people? Where I’m farming, if I didn’t employ security there, people in that village wouldn’t have been going to farm. Is that supposed to be my job? No. Although the people appreciated it. The government is supposed to do something about it.

On President Donald Trump’s threat to unleash American security forces on the criminals terrorising and killing Nigerians, especially the Christians?

My dear, I’m 100% with Trump. Trump didn’t say he’s coming to fight Nigeria. He’s aware of the federal government’s weakness in tackling the issue of insecurity in the country. You are aware, it’s also in the media, how the bandits came into Nigeria. I’m not talking about Boko Haram. Boko Haram started in Nigeria but the bandits were imported into the country by some Nigerians because of the election of 2015, and later, they added Fulani Herdsmen to join the bandits. Some Nigerians did that to defeat Goodluck Jonathan. That is no more news to you. And this government is shying away from tackling the issue. So if Trump says he’s coming to fight the killers, and not the federal army. Should we not thank him? We should attack him because there are so many terrorist groups in this country. If I were to be Trump, I would even take the government as an accomplice because the government seems to be unconcerned with the massive killings going on in the country. Nigerians should be happy that Donald Trump is coming to drive away the bandits who are killing people recklessly.

On the problems affecting the PDP?

My dear, the real trouble PDP has is Wike. I supported Wike against Atiku during our convention. I led the delegates from Edo state to vote for Wike. I saw the manoeuvring. Even the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwa, who was a good friend of Wike, betrayed him. Some people and members of the executive ganged up against Wike. But Atiku caused more problems for the party when he refused to accept Wike as his running mate, even though the leaders of the party told him to appoint him as his running mate. Now only he gets the party and the government. So Wike started the trouble he was having with him. But he has overdone it. He is almost burying PDP. Nevertheless, do not think that PDP is dead. PDP is as strong as ever. My mind is in 2027, I have the belief that ADC (African Democratic Congress) and PDP will join together as one party. Write it down or note it down. You will remember me.