Nigerian activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has publicly condemned remarks made by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, not Monday Okpebholo, during a recent political rally in the state.
Governor Okpebholo, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sparked outrage on Friday, July 18, when he credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the sole financier behind the ongoing projects in Edo State.
“Let us follow the man that knows road. Asiwaju is doing well for Nigeria. We are not campaigning but we are telling our people the truth.
Asiwaju has done well. Everything you are seeing that we are doing in Edo today, who is giving me money? Who is giving me money?”
The crowd responded in unison: “Asiwaju!”
Aisha Yesufu Reacts
Aisha Yesufu, who hails from Edo State, didn’t mince words in her reaction. Taking to her X (formerly Twitter) handle, the outspoken activist described the governor’s remarks as disgraceful and humiliating for the people of the state.
She wrote:
“This is beyond embarrassing. Is this how Edo State has been reduced — to a begging bowl, with a governor who proudly admits he gets funds from the president like he’s running a local branch of the APC, not a federating unit?”
Yesufu also accused the governor of playing politics with development, emphasizing that state funds and federal allocations are entitlements, not favors granted by the presidency.
Political Backlash
The governor’s comments have since stirred mixed reactions, with many Edo residents and political commentators questioning the financial independence of the state and the implications of such statements on federalism and good governance.
Critics argue that Governor Okpebholo’s admission may undermine the principle of state accountability and feed into a dangerous narrative of presidential patronage.
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