The recent attempt to romanticize the so-called “re-enactment of Obaseki’s education reforms” is not only misleading but also a desperate effort to whitewash the failures of an administration that left behind a trail of disillusionment, deceit, and betrayal among Edo teachers.
The ongoing narrative—deliberately sponsored and amplified by a few individuals nostalgic about the past government—seeks to misinform the public and distort the truth about the real state of education in Edo. But facts, as always, are sacred and cannot be buried under political propaganda.
Let it be clear: the Obaseki-led government did not reform education; it weaponized it for political survival. What was branded as “innovation” was, in reality, a carefully packaged illusion that crushed the hopes of hundreds of young Edo teachers who were lured into the system without proper employment letters, pension benefits, or confirmation of their civil service status for over three years.
These teachers were not treated as professionals shaping future leaders, but as expendable pawns used to score political points and project a false image of progress.
Many of them have recounted their ordeals—attending endless training sessions, often at personal expense, without formal recognition of employment. They were paraded before cameras for political optics but denied the dignity and benefits of legitimate work. Their story is one of emotional trauma and betrayal—citizens who believed they were serving their state, only to realize they had been used as instruments of propaganda.
During the build-up to the last governorship election, these same teachers were promised permanent employment and improved welfare if they mobilized support for the governor’s preferred candidate. When the political tide turned, they were abandoned. The promises evaporated, leaving behind a demoralized and frustrated workforce struggling to survive without certainty or hope.
The much-hyped EdoBEST initiative, which Obaseki’s media machinery continues to tout as a revolutionary success, was in truth a hollow project—form without substance, digital gloss masking institutional decay. Beneath the glossy tablets, colourful banners, and choreographed PR campaigns lay a project riddled with inconsistencies and waste.
Independent reviews and insider testimonies have revealed how EdoBEST became a convenient channel for financial mismanagement under the guise of “digital learning transformation.” The programme created an illusion of progress, while the core challenges of decaying infrastructure, poor teacher motivation, and lack of instructional materials persisted.
Across rural communities, pupils still sat on bare floors in roofless classrooms, while teachers struggled with overcrowded classes. The much-advertised “digital tablets” became mere props for photo opportunities rather than tools for genuine learning. Teachers were left frustrated as internet connectivity and technical support were non-existent. EdoBEST, at best, was a showpiece—presentation without performance, deception disguised as development.
No credible data ever proved significant improvement in learning outcomes under the programme. Instead, records showed declining literacy levels, widening gaps between rural and urban schools, and rising teacher attrition due to poor working conditions.
Contrary to the false claim that the present administration is merely “re-enacting” Obaseki’s model, what is happening today is the exact opposite—a restoration of sanity, transparency, and meritocracy in Edo’s education system.
The ongoing recruitment of teachers is anchored on merit and competence, not political patronage. For the first time in many years, candidates were screened through a transparent and standardized process that assessed qualification, aptitude, and subject mastery. Over 5,000 EdoStar teachers have now been properly absorbed into the state civil service—an unprecedented step toward restoring trust in government employment.
This reform is part of a broader agenda to rebuild public confidence and ensure every classroom in Edo State is manned by a qualified, motivated teacher. Those who were smuggled into the system under the previous government—some without the minimum teaching qualification—have been filtered out. This is not vindictiveness; it is the restoration of standards.
The new administration recognizes that education is the backbone of sustainable development. Unlike the past, this government does not treat education as a publicity tool but as a moral duty. Its focus is on tangible outcomes: functional classrooms, professionally trained teachers, and pupils whose learning progress can be scientifically measured.
Efforts are underway to rehabilitate schools, update curricula, and retrain teachers using globally tested methods. The emphasis is on content, not camera; impact, not image—restoring dignity to the teaching profession and returning education to its rightful place as the foundation of societal progress.
The current government will not sustain fraudulent legacies or reward deception disguised as policy. The era of using development as a cover for deceit is over. Its education policy is driven by accountability, transparency, and evidence-based planning. Funds meant for schools will reach schools. Teachers will be trained, paid, and respected. Pupils will learn—not pose for photo ops.
The truth remains that Obaseki’s so-called education reforms were built on falsehood, manipulation, and exploitation. Edo people are no longer deceived. They saw the teachers who worked without pay, the schools that never received upgrades, and the broken promises made to those who served faithfully.
Now, they see a government genuinely working to repair the ruins—one that values integrity over image, performance over propaganda, and merit over manipulation.
Where there was deceit, this government brings transparency.
Where there was propaganda, it institutes progress.
Where there was exploitation, it restores dignity to Edo’s teaching workforce.
The era of empty reforms and borrowed slogans has ended. A new dawn has begun—one defined by truth, service, and accountability. Edo’s education sector is being rebuilt, not rebranded. And that is the true difference between the past of deception and the present of genuine reform.
