By Tobore Jerome
Governor Monday Okpebholo since coming onboard at the helm of affairs in Osadebey Avenue in November 2024, has redefined leadership to what observers have termed responsive, actionable, proactive, pragmatic, transparent, accountable, result-oriented and people-centred style of governance.
Okpebholo’s administration redefined leadership with his SHINE agenda which brought about practical governance that is currently being witnessed across every part of Edo State. From Edo South to Edo Central and to Edo North, the governor’s impact has positively transformed the lives and properties of Edo people in a way and manner that has never been seen in the history of the state.
The governor’s SHINE agenda which centres on Security, Health, Infrastructure, Nutrition (Agriculture) and Education has continued to turn the fortunes of the state economy for good by promoting peace and harmony across the state.
The people’s action governor drive in developing Edo State by ensuring that every sector is well catered for cannot be over emphasized. In the 365 days of Mr Governor being in office, he has demonstrated exemplary leadership by executing several record breaking projects and other landmark infrastructure both ongoing and completed.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, in an article titled “One Year Anniversary: A Year of Visible Build-Outs, Bridges and Urban Renewal in Edo State” gave a solemn insight on how Governor Okpebholo redefined leadership has brought about practical governance that is people-centred and people-oriented.
Itua gave an in-depth knowledge on how Governor Okpebholo through his SHINE agenda has transformed education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and the security of lives and properties across the length and breadth of the state. Particularly in the area of infrastructure where the state is shining on all side.
Gov Okpebholo leadership zeal in changing the infrastructural narrative in Edo State has brought about the first ever record breaking flyover at Ramat Park which is over 60% completed and the second ongoing flyover construction at Adesuwa junction Sapele Road, both flyovers located in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Recall that Governor Okpebholo during campaign promised to make Edo State a construction site, in just one year in office the people’s loving governor has indeed fulfilled his campaign promise with several roads construction ongoing and completed across the three senatorial districts of the state. Okpebholo’s administration also took it upon itself to construct federal roads that the previous administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki abandoned, most especially the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road where construction work has greatly progressed, some sections of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Road and the flagged off of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba express road.
In the area of security, Governor Okpebholo has donated over 60 Hilux vehicles and 400 motorcycles to security agencies. Also, the recruitment of 2,500 men and women into the Edo State Security Corps to bolster community policing. The governor anti-kidnapping and anti-cultism drive by setting up the security outfit code named “Operation Flush out Kidnappers and Cultist” has yielded great results across the state, with Benin City which used to witness large volume of cult related activities and killings now peaceful, as Edo people can now sleep with their two eyes closed, Edo indigenes in diaspora and visitors can now visit the state and enjoy their stay.
Governor Okpebholo being a lover of education has since revolutionized the education sector with the reconstruction and renovation of over 100 schools across the state, the employment of over 5,000 teachers and the granting of N500 million monthly subvention for the state owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. This and many more the governor has done in the first 365 days in office to boost education in Edo State.
Okpebholo’s administration food sufficiency agenda led to the increase of agriculture budget from N4b to N70b, a move that is not just only on paper but largely practical with several hectares of farm lands that has been cultivated across the three senatorial districts of Edo South, Edo North and Edo Central with crops such as maize, rice, yam, cassava etc. The governor ban on market union and association has equally helped in reduction and stabilising the price of foodstuffs and other commodities across the state.
The health sector has equally been giving a boost with the reconstruction and rehabilitation of over 100 primary health centres across the state, the reconstruction of the uncompleted Stella Obasanjo Hospital and the recruitment of medical staffs which includes doctors and nurses has seen the health sector in Edo State giving a new lift as Edo people can now access quality healthcare.
Okpebholo being a worker friendly governor has instituted measures such as timely salary payments, integration of 1,000 previously outsourced cleaners by the Obaseki administration into the state workforce, and launched public-service reform programmes (‘Edo-PREP’) to revitalise the civil service. He has also boosted SME in the state with grants, interest free loans as well as empowerment for our women and youths across the state.
As the Okpebholo administration crosses the 365-day milestone, the signs are encouraging: leadership that is more responsive, people-centred, and results-oriented than what many have seen before in Edo. While much remains to be done, the shift in tone and early results shows a redefinition of leadership in Edo state.
