Contrary to the recent claim by former Edo State Governor and current Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, that the St. Philomena College of Nursing, Benin City belonged to the state government, the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City has set the records straight, saying that the College of Nursing collocated with St. Philomena Catholic Hospital on Dawson Road in Benin City, belongs to the Archdiocese of Benin City.
Knocking Senator Oshiomhole for the “misleading” claim and demanding a retraction, the Church stated that since the establishment of the St. Philomena Catholic Hospital 75 years ago, it had been sustained through the sacrificial giving of the Church, the labour of priests and religious sisters, the goodwill of donors, and modest service charges, and does not enjoy any governmental subvention or state budgetary allocation as claimed by Oshiomhole.
Accusing the former governor who is also a Catholic faithful of having lied on a live broadcast on Arise News Television on July 26, 2025, that the School of Nursing was “wholly built, equipped, owned and funded” by Edo State Government, the Catholic Church dismissed his statement as not only inaccurate, but entirely false and should be disregarded by the public.
Newsmata.co.ng reports that Oshiomhole, during the interview, was defending Governor Monday Okpebholo’s perceived threat to the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi that he should not visit Edo State again without informing him otherwise his safety would not be guaranteed following his visit to the St. Philomena School of Nursing where he donated N15 million towards upgrading its facilities.
Describing Senator Oshiomhole’s claim as a case of “political revisionism which sacrifices facts for distortion”, an outraged Catholic Archdiocese of Benin posited that to suggest that a Church-owned facility is ‘government-owned’ and ‘government-funded’, simply to downplay a charitable act by a political opponent, “is not only unethical but profoundly damaging”.
A press statement by Rev. Fr. Jude Orah, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City on behalf of the Archdiocese and titled “Setting the Record Straight: St. Philomena College of Nursing is Not Government Owned”, said, “It is imperative to state that the claim by Senator Oshiomhole that the College is “a government-owned facility” is entirely false and should be disregarded.
“St Philomena Catholic Hospital, and its educational institutions, namely: School of Midwifery and College of Nursing Sciences, are owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City; built, equipped and funded by the Archdiocese and kind donations from benefactors like Mr. Peter Obi amongst many others”.
According to Fr. Orah, “This clarification has become necessary in response to misleading statements made by His Excellency, Senator Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, CON, who was a former president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, former Governor of Edo State, and former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC); also, the current senator representing Edo North Senatorial District.
“During a live broadcast on Arise News on July 26, 2025, Senator Oshiomhole unequivocally claimed that the College of Nursing Sciences was “built, equipped and owned and funded by Edo State Government hundred percent.” This inaccurate claim, which must be corrected, followed Mr. Peter Obi’s recent visit on 7 July, 2025 to the St Philomena Catholic Hospital located at the popular Dawson Road in Benin City, Edo State Capital, where he donated ₦15,000,000 (fifteen million naira only) for the development of the College to improve learning environment.”
While pointing out that St. Philomena Catholic Hospital was established by Catholic missionaries as part of the Church’s apostolic mandate to heal, educate and uphold the dignity of the human person, Fr. Orah called on all Nigerians to always stand for the truth and urged Senator Oshiomhole to retract his statement, adding that the Catholic Church’s commitment to healthcare is not optional or circumstantial, but a canonical, theological, and moral obligation.
“St. Philomena Catholic Hospital was founded in 1947 by Catholic missionaries as part of the Church’s apostolic mandate to heal, educate, and uphold the dignity of the human person, especially the poor and the vulnerable. It has served faithfully without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation. Since its establishment, the institution has been sustained through the sacrificial giving of the Church, the labour of priests and religious sisters, the goodwill of donors, and modest service charges. It does not enjoy any governmental subvention or state budgetary allocation as claimed by Senator Oshiomhole.
“This appears to be a case of political revisionism which sacrifices facts for distortion. To suggest that a Church-owned facility is ‘government-owned’ and ‘government-funded’, simply to downplay a charitable act by a political opponent, is not only unethical but profoundly damaging. I urge all citizens to critically evaluate public statements and demand accountability for the information disseminated in the public domain.
“The Catholic Church’s commitment to healthcare is not optional or circumstantial; it is a canonical, theological, and moral obligation. “The Church … gives aid to every human being who suffers and strives to bring healing to the world not merely through words but by concrete acts of service” (Gaudium et Spes, no. 38). This is what St. Philomena Catholic Hospital represents: a living ministry of healing and love, not a political facility in a government ledger.
“I call on Nigerians of goodwill to stand always for the truth. St. Philomena has stood for over 75 years because of the faith of the people, the commitment of the Church, and the grace of God. We respectfully invite our political leaders, especially those who have once led this State, to respect this legacy. If there had been support from the government, we would not only acknowledge it, we would celebrate it. But misinformation is not support; and false attribution is not partnership. I also call on media organisations to fact-check every claim, especially those aired publicly, to prevent the spread of misleading narratives that can harm the integrity of long-standing institutions.”