A concerned community group, Auchi Dynamic Youth, Iyekhei Zone, has appealed to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently address the devastating erosion challenges plaguing the Iyekhei Quarters in Auchi.
In a strongly worded statement made available to Hobnob News on Saturday, the group—led by its Chairman, Oseni Alidu—expressed disappointment over what it described as Governor Okpebholo’s failure to inspect erosion-affected areas in Iyekhei, despite similar visits to other parts of Auchi.
“The governor’s failure to visit Iyekhei sends a message of exclusion and marginalisation to our people,” the statement read. “Lives, properties, and community infrastructure are at serious risk, yet Iyekhei continues to be overlooked.”
The group noted that the omission of Iyekhei from recent site visits was particularly disturbing given the zone’s historical political support for the All Progressives Congress (APC). It cited the contributions of late Alhaji Usman Shagadi, a prominent APC leader credited with expanding the party’s presence in Etsako West and Edo North.
“It is disheartening that Iyekhei, one of APC’s strongest bases, is receiving such unfair treatment from an APC-led administration,” the statement added.
In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, dismissed claims of marginalisation. He emphasized that the administration remained committed to addressing all genuine environmental concerns across the state.
“The governor is not marginalising any section of the state,” Itua told Hobnob News. “Communities with verified needs will be given the necessary attention and factored into the state’s budget.”
Erosion has remained a growing environmental concern in Edo North Senatorial District, with residents calling for increased government intervention, proper infrastructure planning, and the inclusion of neglected communities in environmental remediation efforts.
As the rainy season intensifies, the people of Iyekhei say their call is not political but a cry for survival—urging Governor Okpebholo to visit the site personally and take swift action before the damage becomes irreversible.
