By: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq@douglasogbankwa@gmail.com
The Court of Appeal today affirmed Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the Appeal of the PDP Candidate -Asuelimen Ighodalo.
Beyond the politics , it is imperative for us to appraise the policy dialectics , to situate the matrix of development in this administration, with a bird eye “s view of a comparative analysis of that of his predecessor.
It was James Freeman Clarkson that said “A Politician thinks of the Next Elections , while a States Man 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 any one is the mastery of pragmatism, speed and accuracy.
I can not 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 fan fare , bureaucracy and scribbles .If the Governor wants some thing achieved , he does not go on endless trips , grandiloquent rantings or sign MOUs of Mirage .He just does it .It is practical governance.Action speaks louder than voice .
The immediate past Governor was avowed for his Memoranda of Understand 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 7 Months 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 Benin inner city by pass from Teboga 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 by pass and improve economic activities.He has started building the first Fly over in the Benin Metropolis, around Ramat Park to decongest traffic and open up new vistas .This is another promise kept .
Governor Monday Okpebholo has appointed over 460 cleaners in the State Public Service and he has put them on the minimum wage of 70 thousand naira as opposed to the 20 thousand naira being paid to them by his predecessor, through their perfidious consultants , that turned Edo State into an ATM Machine.The Governor has restored the pride of place of Edo State Civil Servants, allowing them to function effectively as provided for by Law , as opposed to the the Obaseki era ,when they were made redundant by the perfidious consultants.
The Governor swore in , in about 4 weeks the 3 Edo State High Court judges-Hon Justice Maureen Omoruyi-Ojo , Hon Justice Jeff Okundamayi and Hon Justice Edoghoho that Obaseki did not swear in for about 84 weeks .Obaseki swore in the Judges he liked and left those he did not like .Governor Okpebholo in the swearing stated that you can be any thing in Edo State without having a god father , or 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 Edo lites for about 8 years and he even renovated one of the schools in about 6 weeks through rapid response intervention, a novelty that never happened in Obaseki’s ill-fated 8 years of motion with out 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,GRA,Benin City to the hallowed chambers of the house to have a date with infamy.
Governor Okpebholo has for that first time in about 8 years provided brand new Hilux Jeeps ,other vehicles and one thousand motorcycles 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 of the last regime .
He has revitalised Edo Broadcasting Service 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 5 years .There is a massive digitalisation going on there .He has appointed a world class broadcaster , who is even an EBS Veteran Suleyman Aledeh to run the Institution.EBS is for the first time on radio garden and Radio planet, which means it for the first time can be listened to any where in the World .
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 self sustainable and viable 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 simulated by elements under the former Government that attempted to balkaze the Great Benin Kingdom , who however failed .The Benin Traditional Council has regained its pride of place and the Oba of Benin remains the sole custodian of the cultural mores of the Great Benin Kingdom, as it has always been ,before the agents of discords ran amock .
His Excellency has ensured that he handled the issue of those whose houses were demolished for a so-called phantom 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 is opposed to the complaint prone and Grammar blaring former Governor Obaseki , who put a sign board 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 acts 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 the innovations and development.
He has taken over the Edo Specialist Hospital from the shy lock 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 just concluded National Sports Festival , where Edo State came 5th out of 36 States and the FCT , despite the fact that it was a transition period for Nigerian Sports .The Governor has opened up the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for Citizens and Sports Men /Women to train and work out daily, as opposed to the outgone Government which made the stadium an exclusive preserve of the elites and mighty, shutting same against ordinary citizens .
The Edo State Governor-Senator Monday Okpebholo has brought about some institutional tsunami.
He has conducted thorough investigations into the activities of the out gone Government, which has revealed mind blowing revelations and has given the State the requisite information to bring the State to a new beginning .
He has flagged off many other roads which are in all parts of Edo State .
Intelligence is not in grammar, it is action .If you dumped with grammar ,it is actually you that is not intelligence . Intelligence with out effect on the lives of the people is a scam .
A New Edo has risen .
About the Author:
Douglas Ogbankwa Esq, is the President of Benin Writers’ Society.
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