Okojie: New Edo has risen, shining bright

At the intersection of business, community service, and national politics stands Hon. Prince Odi Okojie, the lawmaker representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency. Over the years, he has evolved from a young Esan entrepreneur with big dreams into one of Edo Central’s most influential political figures, respected for his accessibility, development-driven agenda, and unwavering commitment to his people.

In this exclusive interview with NICHOLAS KALU, Okojie opens up about the experiences that shaped his early life, the discipline behind his business success, and the values that continue to guide his political journey. He also speaks on his legislative strides in the last two years, offering insight into how his private-sector background informs the impactful programmes and projects transforming communities across Esan land. Excerpts:

Your pivotal role as the Edo Central Director-General of Governor Monday Okpebholo‘s 2024 campaign was legendary. Many say your grassroots mobilisation in Esan turned the tide…

 Where do I begin? As Director General for the Okpebholo Campaign in Edo Central, I saw a man whose vision mirrored Edo’s soul: progress without pretence. The previous administration left us with debt and deferred dreams, but Senator Okpebholo brought renewed energy.

 We mobilised like never before — from ward to ward, community to community, unit to unit, and market to market, going door-to-door across every Esan village. Town halls overflowed with passionate voters. We changed the narrative, and today the governor has turned Edo into a construction hub. Everywhere you go, the transformation speaks for itself.

 The last election was not just a campaign; it was a people-powered revolution against falsehood and maladministration. As the former Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, described it, it was “double-breasted pilfering” of our collective patrimony.

Victory came through divine grace and the people’s trust in then-Senator Monday Okpebholo. But let’s be clear: his integrity, his accommodating spirit, and his humility sealed that victory. He listens, acts, and delivers. From fixing dilapidated hospitals, schools, and roads to constructing new ones, he produces results. I gave my all because I believed in him, and history has vindicated us. Edo is reborn. A new Edo has risen, and Edo is shining.

 How has his (Okpebholo) leadership exceeded expectations, and what fuels your staunch loyalty?

Exceeded? He has shattered every bar! He has silenced the naysayers. The man is a performer. He is aligning Edo with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Security? Kidnappings and farm-related crimes have drastically reduced, nearly eliminated through community policing with salaried vigilante operatives.

 Health? Hospitals are being revamped.

Education? Almost 10,000 teachers have been employed and issued appointment letters—real employment, not ‘audio appointments’. Schools across the state have also been renovated.

Infrastructure? Flyovers are emerging across Benin. Roads are opening up rural communities to investment. Tourism is back. Sports and agriculture are thriving. Youth employment is rising. The list is endless. In just 12 months, he has fulfilled and surpassed every promise. As for loyalty—mine is ironclad. Governor Okpebholo is Edo’s architect. He has restored dignity to widows, opportunity to graduates, and hope to farmers. I have staked my reputation on him because he is the leader Edo deserves. We call him ‘Akpako Rescue’ because God sent him to rescue us from years of divisive and destructive leadership. The Governor is working, Edo is rising, and the people are happy.

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With local and general elections coming, how will you rally support for your party and the governor, especially in light of the commitment to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu?

 It is full steam ahead. No backing down. The Governor has given the marching orders. He has delivered, and such performance deserves consolidation. I will give my full support with every vigour to what I call the “Defend the Dividend Tour.” Every polling unit will feel our presence. We will deploy digital mobilisation tools—platforms that track project impact, compelling stories of transformed lives, youth ambassadors, and coordinated door-to-door engagement. Our message remains clear: “Continuity for Prosperity.” Tinubu must continue, and Okpebholo must succeed.

 Expect mega rallies in Uromi and across Edo Central. Cultural carnivals that merge Esan identity with governance achievements. We will court the undecided with evidence of transformation.

 Edo’s GDP is rising, unemployment is falling, security has improved, and development is visible everywhere. For these reasons, I will campaign until my voice cracks. Loyalty to excellence is my creed. Edo forward, under Governor Okpebholo —always.

 You have publicly supported President Tinubu’s petroleum and economic reforms. How does this align with your legislative role in the midstream sector?

 My alignment with President Tinubu’s agenda is both principled and practical. The president’s vision emphasises industrialisation, value addition, and energy independence. These are not slogans; they align with my convictions.

 As Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), I am positioned to support and implement these reforms. We oversee compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act and refinery rehabilitation.

 The removal of fuel subsidy created public anxiety. You acknowledged that the N500 billion palliative was inadequate but still urged Nigerians to trust the government. How do you justify continued support amid hardship?

 I will never deny that Nigerians are feeling hardship. The removal of the subsidy brought immediate shocks. I said publicly that the N500 billion proposed for cushioning the effects was insufficient. However, we must look beyond the present pain.

 If we remain tethered to unsustainable subsidies, we undermine investment in education, health, and infrastructure. I support the administration because the policy direction is sincere and necessary for long-term stability.

 My responsibility is dual: hold the government accountable and support reforms that unlock future benefits. At the committee level, we ensure subsidy savings translate into refineries, pipelines, host-community programmes, and tangible benefits for everyday Nigerians.

 To my constituents, I say: the transition is tough, but we are working to scale relief programmes. Locally, I continue to support education, health, agriculture, youth development, and infrastructure so that federal policy shocks do not crush the Esan people. Complaints alone cannot solve our problems. Engagement, accountability, and participation will.

 What is your blueprint for Esan in the next two years, and what message do you have for young politicians watching you?

For Esan, our agenda is ‘Esan Ascendancy’. It is upwards ever and backwards never. It is progress and above only. We will push for more federal presence, more empowerment initiatives, more productive bills, and more opportunities for our people.

 To young politicians, politics is always about lobbying, negotiation and persuasion. That is the name of the game. Enter the arena with heart, not hunger. Politics is not a meal ticket; it is a mission. Understand Edo’s challenges and amplify the voices of the people, just as I did in the markets of Esan. Align yourself with leaders who deliver real results. Dream boldly, serve with humility and remember that true power is measured by how many people you uplift. Esan, Edo and Nigeria — together, we are building a future worthy of our people.

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 Your tenure in the National Assembly has been marked with bold interventions in infrastructure, education, agriculture and youth empowerment. How has your business acumen shaped your legislative priorities, and what key achievements stand out for your constituents in the last two years?

My business background has been central to how I serve in the Green Chamber. It taught me efficiency, accountability, and the importance of delivering measurable value. These principles guide every decision I make on behalf of my people.

 Over the last two years, we have empowered more than 5,000 youths and widows across Esan North-East and Esan South-East. We have constructed roads, supported housing projects, and opened pathways for sustainable livelihoods. Our skills acquisition programmes have trained hundreds of young people in welding, fashion design, catering, technology, and other vocational fields, positioning them for participation in a modern economy.

 We have also provided vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, deep freezers, and other income-generating tools that help families build stability and independence. We have also strengthened security in my constituency by providing operational vehicles to the relevant agencies. In addition, we facilitated the construction of the General Hospital Road in Uromi, a vital access route that now supports local businesses and improves movement across the community.

 We also launched a solar-powered street lighting initiative known as ‘Operation Light Up Agbazilo,’ which restored safety and vitality to communities that once lived in darkness. Streets that were previously unsafe at night now experience life, activity, and renewed confidence.

 These interventions are not photo opportunities; they are genuine lifelines. Today, our people are witnessing representation that delivers: better roads, improved schools, renovated clinics, and community-centred development across the constituency.