By Douglas Ogbankwa Esq
It was James Freeman Clarkson that said “A politician thinks of the next elections, while a statesman thinks of the next generation.”
By all standards, I am not a politician, but a policy analyst. Those who reckon with me recall that I hardly award marks. But what endears me to anyone is the mastery of pragmatism, speed and accuracy.
I cannot boast to know Nigeria much, but I know when a leader is genuine and sincere. Love him or hate the Edo State Governor – Monday Okpebholo is an enigma of a sort. A man of few words and profound action, he has come to depict the meaning of the time honoured English aphorism that actions speak louder than voice
It is not a surprise that the opposition has unleashed an avalanche of lies just like winter ice precipitated by snow, to want to slow Senator Monday Okpebholo down.
One thing that stands the governor out is his seamlessness in achieving alot of actions with little fanfare, bureaucracy and scribbles. If the governor wants something achieved, he does not go on endless trips or sign MoUs of mirage. He just does it.
The immediate past governor was avowed for his MoUs, so much so that he was aptly dubbed “the MoU Governor”. He was also known for talking more than he performs. He used some social media influencers to cover up his inadequacies.
The performance of Governor Monday Okpebholo in 100 days in office is akin to the biblical signs and wonders. He has worked tirelessly and he has worked with so much precision.
Governor Monday Okpebholo has flagged off the inner city bypass from Temboga Road to Ugbowo. This will lessen traffic in the Ugbowo axis of the ever busy Benin – Lagos Road. This will also open up the communities around the new bypass and improve economic activities. He has started building the first flyover in the Benin metropolis, to decongest traffic and open up new vistas.
The Governor has appointed over 460 cleaners and he has put them on the minimum wage of N70,000 as opposed to the N20,000 being paid them by his predecessor.
The Governor swore in, in about four weeks the Edo State High Court Judges that Obaseki did not swear in about 84 weeks. Obaseki swore in the Judges he liked and left those he did not like. The Governor in the swearing stated that you can be any thing in Edo State without having a godfather, all you have to do is to be God fearing.
The Governor bursted the facade called Edo Best when he visited some schools and exposed the debauchery that has been used to deceive Edolites for about eight years and he even renovated one of the schools in about six weeks through rapid response intervention, a novelty that never happened in Obaseki’s ill-fated eight years of motion without movement.
Governor Monday Okpebholo is currently addressing the issues of the night inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly. A sore and sordid reminder of our past when the then Governor Godwin Obaseki like a thief in the night, orchestrated the inauguration of members of the Edo State House of Assembly in June, 2019 at about 9:30pm. This was done when even one of the members of the house wore knickers, as he was picked up from where he went to buy suya in Ihama to the hallowed chambers of the house to have a date with infamy.
Governor Okpebholo has for that first time in about eight years provided brand new Hilux Jeeps, other vehicles and one thousand motor cycles for security agencies in Nigeria. This has paid off with the recent mopping up of about 5000 arms and ammunitions and some suspects. This is opposed to the fairly used Sienna that was too little, far and in between.
He has revitalised Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS)and returned it to terrestrial TV, for the first in over a year. The Ihevbe transmission station is not running for the first time in five years. There is a massive digitalisation going on there. He has appointed a world class broadcaster, who is even an EBS veteran, Sulaiman Aledeh to run the station.
Governor Okpebholo has brought about double digits in billions for the Internal Revenue Service, for the very first time. This has brought Edo State into the main stream of one of the sustainable state economies in Nigeria.
He has restored the full privileges of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare 11, the Oba of Benin, as he has stopped those who were stimulated by elements under the former government that attempted to balkanize the Great Benin Kingdom, who however failed.
He ensured that he handled the issue of those whose houses were demolished for a so-called Coral City at Obazagbon and Okuoroma Communities and same is being resolved with a human face.
He has constructed and tarred the Ekpoma – Auchi Road, ensuring pleasurable travels for commuters and reducing the risk on the road. This was done by the state government even as it is a federal road. This opposed to the complaint prone and grammar blaring Governor, who put a signboard there with the inscription “Please bear with us, this is a Federal Road.” But, the road is being used by Edo people. What a paradox of conviction!
The Governor has stopped the incessant cult killings in the state by providing leadership for the amendment of the Edo State Anti Cultism Law and also making practical decisions that nipped the hydra headed problem in the bud. There are now consequences for such dastardly act and consequences deter impunity.
Governor Okpebholo has distributed the books hoarded by his predecessor and this opened up the learning space for pupils and students. He has opened up the school system for innovations and development.
He has taken over the Edo Specialist Hospital from the shylock consultants that made the hospital a business centre and has made the hospital accessible to Edo people. He is also going to bring back our Central Hospital that is over 100 years old. The ostentatious and white elephant project – the museum will give way for the life saving hospital. It is only a person that is alive that can see artefacts.
In sports, he has constituted the full compliments of all sports associations for all to prepare for the forthcoming National Sports Festival in May.
He has conducted a thorough investigation into the activities of the outgone government, which has revealed mind blowing revelations and has given the state the requisite information to bring it to a new beginning. He has flagged off many other roads which are in all parts of Edo State.
Edo State under Governor Monday Okpebholo is a work in progress. It has been 100 days of breath taking activities and 100 days of a new Edo Rising. Indeed, a new Edo has risen.
It was John Fitzgerald Kennedy, former President of the United States that said: “Think not of what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Douglas Ogbankwa Esq is the President of Benin Writers’ Society.
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