Is Edo rising under Okpebholo?

The mantra of Governor Monday Okpebholo is “A new Edo has Risen”. OSAGIE OTABOR reports on his activities and resolve to hire and fire any political appointee.

Governor Monday Okpebholo has given his administration a thumbs-up for its achievements over the last year, especially in implementing his five-point “SHINE” agenda. To Governor Okpebholo and his supporters, the implementation of the SHINE agenda has improved critical areas of the Edo economy. The SHINE agenda is an acronym for Security, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Natural Resources & Agriculture, and Education.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said Edo was bleeding before the emergence of Governor Okpebholo. Afegbua likened Okpebholo’s intervention in Edo State to a panel beater fixing a badly damaged vehicle after an accident. Afegbua said the state was already being fixed in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and all sectors of the economy.

Presenting his one-year report sheet, Governor Okpebholo said he met a state weighed down by rot, debt, insecurity, and distrust, but that with determination, prayer, and teamwork, his administration has begun to restore hope, rebuild institutions, and renew confidence in government. He has done away with the use of consultants to execute government business and ensure civil servants are adequately motivated to do their job.

 Governor Okpebholo resolved to end kidnappings, cult killings, cultism, and armed robbery. He saw the creation of a Special Security Squad in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies. He ensured that new anti-cultism and anti-kidnapping laws were enacted. Convicted kidnappers in Edo State now face the death penalty, while several houses suspected of being used for kidnapping activities have been demolished across the state. The governor said, “Edo was almost a war zone, plagued by cult killings, kidnappings, armed robbery, and cybercrime when he came on board.

 “We acted decisively, repealed the weak anti-cultism law, passed a stronger one, supplied 60 Hilux vans and 400 motorcycles to security agencies, and recruited and trained 2,500 officers into the Edo State Security Corps. These measures have drastically reduced insecurity. Edo will no longer be a safe place for criminals.”

In his pursuit of quality healthcare, Governor Okpebholo commenced construction of a new 100-bed Specialist Hospital and a new School of Nursing in Udomi, in the Esan Central local government area. His administration has also built over 50 Primary Health Centres across the state.

Two legacy projects of Governor Okpebholo are the flyovers at the Ramat Park and Adesuwa Junction along Sapele Road. The governor said his administration has awarded 28 new road projects totaling 255 kilometers across the state.

According to him, “We inherited over N600 billion in local and foreign debts and N180 billion owed to contractors. Through prudent management and transparency under our SHINE Agenda, we have significantly reduced this burden. We have also created over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and launched a N1 billion interest-free loan scheme for small businesses and traders.”

However, political appointees of Governor Okpebholo now sleep with one eye open. They never know who will be sacked or suspended in the dead of the night. That has been the style of Governor Okpebholo toward his appointees: he can hire and fire. His former Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, was kicked out in the dead of the night. Besides Itua, others who were suspended or sacked at night were former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Osagie; former Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Hon Damian Lawal; former Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Isere; former Managing Director, EdoGIS, Tony Ikpasajah, amongst others.

Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial district, said the ability for Governor Okpebholo to hire and fire showed he was a man of steel.

“The remodeling and reconstruction of markets across Edo State is a testament to your connection with our womenfolk, who form the bedrock of our rural and urban communities.

“Okpebholo’s actions speak louder than words. Edo State is once again shining as a beacon of progress and good governance.”

The traditional institution got a taste of Governor Okpebholo’s resolve to right the wrongs. He has sacked four conventional rulers in his first year. They are Lukman Akemokue, who was appointed Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in 2024 by former Governor Godwin Obaseki. His appointment was revoked for failing to comply with succession laws, and Mike Sadoh was installed as the new Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in 2025. Laze Dr. George Oshiapi Egabor was removed as Okumagbe of Uwanno kingdom, Etsako East local government area, due to incessant kidnappings and killings in his domain. Other traditional rulers sacked were Bamidele Obaitan of Ososo Kingdom and Zaiki Luckman Odamah III of the Ikpeshi/Egbegere clan, both in Akoko-Edo local government area.

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At the inception of Okpebholo’s administration, residents raised eyebrows when the Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private firm owned by Tony Kabaka Adun, was engaged as Enforcement Consultant for the Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS). Moreover, several drivers’ unions returned to motor parks and bus stops. They included the Drivers Welfare Scheme, Professional Drivers on Wheels, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, and others. Commercial drivers who hitherto paid N800 daily were made to pay between N2,000 and N10,000. Besides the high payment, which does not go into government coffers, the drivers were daily harassed and beaten.

Public outcry and a drop in Edo IGR led Governor Okpebholo to ban their activities in August this year. Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, said the groups violated the conditions of their engagement and resorted to cash collections, extortions, social harassment, and intimidation.

Apart from the transport unions, Governor Okpebholo also banned unions in all markets in the state due to rising food prices.

To the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Okpebholo’s achievements do not match the huge revenue accruing to the state. It said there was no evidence of the vast funds in the state.

State Chairman of Edo PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, at a press briefing, said there was no corresponding improvement in infrastructure, no visible expansion of social services, no renewal of public institutions, and no measurable uplift in the lives of ordinary Edo people.

“Roads are deteriorating, not improving. Public utilities are struggling. Local government areas are functionally paralysed, and basic governance is absent.

“This stark disconnect between massive federal allocations and negligible outcomes raises serious concerns about fiscal responsibility, value for money, and the priorities of the current administration.

“Even more troubling is the fact that statutory allocations continue to be released to unelected local government impostors, while duly elected chairmen, who have secured court judgments, are excluded from office. The Edo people are therefore forced to ask whether public funds are being deployed for development or merely circulated within an illegitimate administrative structure.

“One year after assuming office, the Edo State Government has failed to articulate any coherent development blueprint, policy framework, or governing philosophy. There is no published agenda against which citizens can measure performance, no sectoral roadmap, and no clearly defined priorities.

“What Edo people have experienced instead is drift, reactionary governance, policy inconsistency, propaganda without substance, and a steady erosion of democratic and institutional norms painstakingly built over the last eight years.”