Former Edo Speaker says he facilitated employment, healthcare, education, roads and electricity projects across the constituency
Former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and member representing Owan West Constituency, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, has presented an account of his stewardship, outlining employment, infrastructure, healthcare, education and agricultural interventions he said he facilitated for constituents over the past three years.
Agbebaku spoke during an accountability programme organised by Owan Conscience, where he said he appeared with documents detailing projects and interventions undertaken during his time as a legislator and Speaker.
He said governance and project execution depended on budgetary provisions and the availability of funds, stressing that the role of a legislator in influencing projects was different from the expectations often expressed outside the legislature.
Agbebaku said he facilitated more than 400 permanent jobs for people from Owan West across institutions including the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Edo State House of Assembly Service, Edo Line, National Orthopaedic Hospital, the judiciary and primary healthcare sector.
He also said constituents were appointed as Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants.
1,761 solar lights installed
Under what he described as Operation Light Up Owan West, Agbebaku said 1,761 solar streetlights had been installed across 21 communities.
He listed areas including Ugbubezi Road, Ozalla, Oke New, Eruere, Uhonmora, Sobe and Uzebba, while adding that another 250 solar lights were being installed in Eme-Ora and Ohia.
He also said 13 major streets had been graded across Owan West to improve access and movement for residents, farmers, schoolchildren and emergency services.
Roads and healthcare
Agbebaku said he used his position as Speaker to influence the completion of the Sabongida-Ora-Ugbubezi-Sobe Road.
He also announced that the Iruekpen-Ozalla-Sabo Road had been approved by the Edo State Government, with full construction expected to commence during the dry season.
In the health sector, the former Speaker listed the renovation of the theatre at Sabongida-Ora General Hospital and reconstruction of the Oke Old Health Centre among his interventions.
He said renovation of doctors’ quarters in Uzebba was ongoing, while his interventions also included provision of a resident doctor, health personnel, generators, mattresses and operational vehicles.
Education, agriculture and businesses
On education, Agbebaku said he facilitated the renovation of a four-classroom block at Umiehi Central School, Uzebba, and reconstruction of Uhonmora Secondary Commercial School.
He also claimed to have supported students through the payment of more than 800 NECO/GCE examination forms and more than 800 JAMB forms, alongside teacher employment and provision of learning materials.
For farmers, he said 80 motorcycles, agrochemicals and financial support for seeds were provided, while efforts were also made to improve farm-road access.
Agbebaku further listed the rehabilitation of Uzebba Shopping Mall, grants and deep freezers for market women, restoration of electricity to Eme-Ora and transformer installations at Ugbubezi Road, Holy Trinity Grammar School and Uzawa Quarters, Otuo.
He said festive support had also been provided to widows and families through the distribution of food items and other materials.
Agbebaku, who was elected Speaker of the 8th Edo Assembly in June 2023, subsequently left the position in August 2026. Premium Times reported that he announced his resignation on August 17, citing personal reasons and the need to promote peace and progress in the House. The Assembly later maintained that his resignation had not been formally presented and proceeded to impeach him, with Yekini Idiaye emerging as Speaker.
His latest stewardship account therefore comes after his departure from the leadership of the Assembly, as he continues to represent Owan West in the Edo State legislature.
IBN News notes that the project figures, employment numbers and other interventions cited above are claims made by Agbebaku in his stewardship address and have not been independently audited by IBN News.
