The Edo State Government and the main opposition—Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday engaged in verbal war over PRESCO PLC’s Statutory Right of Occupancy, a parcel of land Governor Monday Okpebholo purported revoked and later reversed within 24 hours.

In an advertorial (public notice) published by two national dailies on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025, and signed by Governor Okpebholo with the titled: ‘Revocation of Statutory Rights of Occupancy Pursuant to Sections 28 and 38,’ the Edo State Government announced the revocation of a parcel of land belonging PRESCO PLC in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

But in a swift backtrack on Thursday, 27th November, 2025, the Edo State Government in another advertorial published by the same national dailies, and signed by Umar Ikhilor, Secretary to the State Government with the title: ‘Disclaimer on Public Notice Purportedly Revoking Statutory Rights of Occupancy of PRESCO PLC,’ the state government distanced itself from the public notice (advertorial).

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Ikhilor, who said the publication did not “emanate from the Executive Governor of Edo State nor from any authorised organ of the state government, added: “The government has verified that the immediate past Managing Director of Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), acted unilaterally, without authorisation, and in complete disregard for established procedures and the actual numbers of hectares intended for excision from PRESCO PLC’s landholding.” As at when the first public notice was published, The EDOGIS MD was still an appointee of Governor Okpebholo.

Reacting to the development in a statement, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Daniel Osa-Ogbegie, described the revocation and counter-revocation, as shameful.

The State Publicity Secretary who said “Edo people are witnessing a government that does not know what it signs,” stressed “it does not understand what it announces, and cannot defend what it authorises.”

He added: “This, apparently, is not governance.It is a circus. A dangerous circus.”

READ ALSO:Crack In Edo APC As Group Accuses Party Chieftain Of Acting Opposition’s Script

Osa-Ogbegie, while noting that “PRESCO PLC is not just a company; it is the single largest agro-industrial investment in Edo State, a 34-year pillar employing thousands directly and indirectly,” said: “Edo people deserve honest answers. Instead, they got a contradictory drama that exposes the hollowness of this administration.”

Reacting to PDP’s statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, who described the PDP as crying than the bereaved.

Afegbua, while stating that “the release by the Secretary to the Edo State Government that captured the essential details of the Government’s position should suffice, especially the Constitutional dimensions,” however admitted that there was an initial mix-up.

He said: “There were initial mix-up on the issue under discourse, but the explanation by the Secretary to the State Governor, gave a constitutional rationale for the position taken by government concerning land in oil minerals areas and one had thought, that was self-explanatory to any reasonable and rational mind, but because comedians must always trivialise scenarios, the PDP will never disappoint in their vainglory.”

Not less than a hundred less privileged patients on Wednesday in Benin benefited from a free medical surgery carried out by Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Foundation.

The surgical operations were carried out on ailments ranging from Fibroids, Hernia, Liponia breast lump and others.

Speaking, the founder and Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, said since the commencement of the free medical outreach in 2014, over 3000 persons have benefited in Edo and Delta.

Paddy, who said the programme was driven purely by compassion and not political motives, added: “Life is all about what you can give back to the people because you came with nothing and you go back with nothing. I have been giving back to society in the past 10 years to impact the people”, he said.

He stressed that many of the beneficiaries could not have afforded the cost of treatment on their own.

READ ALSO:Okpebholo Announces Plan To Recruit 3,000 Teachers In Edo

“This gesture is outside politics. We started as far back as 2014 and we have been doing it every year. Some persons who come for treatment tell you they have not had food to eat, not to talk of getting money, which sometimes runs into millions, to give to the doctor.

“The experience in the last 10 years has been fulfilling and impactful. I am happy to see burdens lifted off people.

“Life is vanity and when you are gone, you will be remembered for what you have done. I hope to continue till Jesus calls me.”

Director General of the foundation, Mr. Zion Oshiobugie, explained that while the first nine editions of the medical outreach were held in Delta State, the 10th edition marks the first time Edo residents were benefitting from the initiative.

Oshiobugie noted that the annual programme is fully funded by the founder, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, who dedicates his birthday every year to providing life-changing healthcare for indigent citizens.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest, Charge Content Creator To Court In Edo

According to him, “What he does is to mark his birthday on the 30th of November every year with the free surgeries which have benefitted 3,000 persons. He wants humanity to benefit from his birthday instead of just partying.

“So this programme, which takes place for one week every year, is borne out of love for humanity, which is in line with the motto of our foundation, ” Touching Lives”

“Every year, we partner with our surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, who brings his team from Lagos. He has been one of our partners and he is a respected member of the Nigeria Medical Association.”

Partners and team lead of the medical personnel from Lagos, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, expressed his commitment to the outreach, disclosing his personal calling to give back after surviving a ghastly motor accident years ago.

READ ALSO: Oshiomhole Criticises Obaseki’s Govt, Scores Okpehbolo High

“I am here with 24 members of my team from Lagos. We perform fibroid surgeries which have allowed women to have their own children. We also perform hernia, lipoma, breast lump and other surgeries.

“Last week, we got a text that one of the women we operated on in 2020 now has three kids. That means this intervention is creating relief for our people.

“The focus is on the less privileged because when you do this, you give it to God. Each year we come back, people give testimonies of the good things that have happened to them.”

A 19-year-old Nelson Ehigie who benefited from the free medical operation, thanked the foundation for the free surgery.

“I’m very grateful to Dr. Paddy Foundation. My parents couldn’t afford the cost so we had to come here for the surgery. God bless Dr. Iyamu,” he said.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit pump price after Dangote Refinery and depot owners dropped ex-depot prices.

A visit to filling stations in Abuja on Thursday, gathered that the state-owned firm has slashed its fuel price to N930 per litre from N945.

The downward adjustment has been implemented in NNPCL retail outlets in Kubwa Expressway, Gwarimpa, Wuse Zone 4, Zone 6 and filling stations within Abuja and environs.

This means that NNPCL reduced its fuel retail price by N10 per litre.

READ ALSO:EFCC Grills Ex-NNPCL Boss, Mele Kyari

It was also observed that other Nigerian filling stations, such as Ranoil in Gwarimpa, have reduced fuel pump prices by N5 to N935 per litre from N940.

Similarly, MRS and AP Ardova filling stations in Abuja are currently dispensing their petrol between N930 and N935.

The development comes as Dangote Refinery and depot owners such as Pinnacle and Aiteo dropped ex-depot prices by at least N10 to N846, N845, and N844 per litre, respectively, as of Thursday morning.

Earlier, the spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, told DAILY POST that fuel prices may drop further as the ongoing petrol price war intensifies.