Tag: Okpebholo

Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo has assured his administration will rebuild the State on the foundation of peace, faith and purposeful leadership.

Okpebholo said his administration remained committed to driving sustainable development across all sectors.

The Edo Governor spoke when he led members of the State Executive Council and top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi Diocese, for a thanksgiving service to mark his one year in office.

Okpebholo, who expressed profound gratitude to God for His grace and faithfulness, said he made a vow last year to return in thanksgiving upon winning both the primaries and the governorship election.

He said his administration’s prioritised road infrastructure and security as pressing challenges confronting the state.

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“Sometimes last year, I was in this church and I said, by God’s grace, that if I win the primaries and the gubernatorial election, I will return here to give thanks to God. Today, I have come to redeem that vow.

“I want to thank the Bishop for your prayers and support. When he was speaking today, he was speaking my mind.

“As I came here today, my mind was on how we will fix the bad roads. The second thought on my mind is about a matter that concerns us all — insecurity. We will continue to do our best to fight insecurity and ensure that the evil ones are driven out of our midst.

“While I sympathise with the Church over the kidnapped priests in recent times, I want to say that there is never a day we are not concerned about the insecurity in our land. We are doing everything possible to bring it to an end. I assure you that very soon, with your prayers and our efforts, we will overcome,” Okpebholo declared.

Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Rev. Gabriel Dunia, delivered a sermon centered on cleanliness, holiness, and the virtues of gratitude in leadership.

He commended Governor Okpebholo for reintroduction of the State’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise, describing it as a necessary step toward public health and moral discipline.

Bishop Dunia also lauded the Governor for being a man of integrity who keeps his word, recalling the Governor’s vow during last year’s service to return for thanksgiving if elected.

“You made a promise before God and His people that you would return to this altar to give thanks if you emerged victorious. Today, you have kept that promise. This is the mark of a man of faith and truth,” the Bishop said.

The Edo State Government and management of the Museum for West African Arts (MOWAA) has settled its rift.

The $100m MOWAA project would be restored to its original and rightful purpose which is cultural edifice envisioned to honour the heritage of the Benin Kingdom.

Governor Monday Okpebholo made this known when he received the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, at the Government House in Benin City.

Okpebholo described the visit as a defining moment of unity between the state government and the Benin monarchy.

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Governor Okpebholo said his administration would work with the Benin Palace, the Federal Government, and international partners to ensure the return of all looted Benin artifacts.

“Your Majesty, I wanted to make a speech, but the video we just watched, where former Governor Godwin Obaseki promised to build the Benin Royal Museum as a gift to you, has already made it for me. The issue of the Museum of West African Art is over. It was a birthday gift to Your Majesty, and it will be restored as such,” he said.

On his part, Oba Ewuare II, said he prayed for a governor who would put food on the table of the people, develop the state, and respect traditional institutions.

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has said that his administration would not embark on reckless borrowing.

Okpebholo said he understood the importance of financial prudence, transparency, and accountability.

Insisting that his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, left a debt of N600bn, Governor Okpebholo said he has started paying liabilities he inherited.

Okpebholo listed the controversial Radisson Hotel project as one of the major financial burdens inherited from Obaseki.

“That single project consumed about ₦30 billion, yet Edo owns only 20 percent. We are paying ₦380 million monthly on that debt. Still, we are determined to clear these obligations and free Edo from financial captivity.

“Edo’s resources don’t belong to me. We are managing funds prudently, paying debts, and restoring fiscal discipline. Despite the ₦600 billion debt left by the previous administration, we have started paying down those liabilities,” he said.

The Edo Governor, who spoke ahead of his one year in office anniversary, said his administration successfully subdued and defeated violent cultism in the state through strategic security interventions, intelligence coordination, and political will.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo, said the battle against cultism was one of the most decisive and uncompromising campaigns of his administration.

 “We will not commercialize killing. Every life in Edo matters to me. Our fight against cultism, kidnapping, and all forms of violent crime is total and irreversible.

“We have worked closely with the police, the DSS, and other security agencies to restore peace across the state. Today, Edo is safer, calmer, and freer than it has been in many years.”

“Serving Edo people is the most important thing to me. What drives us is not the next election but the next generation. We came to change the narrative and restore order after years of fear, neglect, and decay,” he said.

According to him, Edo State has made significant progress in tackling insecurity and rebuilding public confidence, thanks to a renewed focus on community collaboration and professional policing. 

“Before Christmas last year, we witnessed multiple cult-related killings. We stepped in immediately because the life of every citizen is sacred. Since then, our coordinated approach has restored calm. Today, nightlife is back in Benin and other parts of the state,” he noted.

Governor Okpebholo disclosed that his administration has heavily invested in security operations by providing vehicles, logistics, and operational support to law enforcement agencies. 

“We have made Edo safe again. People now walk freely at night. That is what good governance is about; protecting lives and giving citizens confidence in their government,” he said.

The Governor said his administration inherited a state of decay but refused to be deterred. 

“We came into government empty. The last administration left behind dilapidated schools, broken roads, and a collapsing public service. But we didn’t dwell on complaints; we acted. We started fixing roads, rebuilding schools, and restoring public institutions,” he said.

He noted that in less than a year, his administration has rebuilt schools across the three senatorial districts, restoring the morale of teachers and trust among parents. 

“When we took over, public schools had leaking roofs and no chairs or desks. That was the EdoBEST of the last government. Today, we have reconstructed and revitalized schools, and enrollment has surged because people now believe in the system again,” he affirmed.

On agriculture, the Governor said his commitment to food security remains unshaken. 

“Agriculture is central to our development plan. In 2026, we will open up more farmlands and encourage our people to return to farming. The President is passionate about agriculture, and Edo will align with that vision to boost food supply and economic growth,” he said.

 Okpebholo said his government paid outstanding entitlements owed to teachers, doctors, pensioners, and staff of the College of Education, Ekiadolor. 

“We are settling those debts in tranches because justice must be done to the workers who suffered under the previous regime.

“We are creating employment, boosting productivity, and attracting investors. Edo will soon be a model of economic renewal in Nigeria,” he added.

Edo State Government said Governor Monday Okpebholo has reclaimed land from the Museum of West Africa Arts (MOWAA) to rebuild the Central Hospital that was demolished by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The Central Hospital was demolished with MOWAA established in its place.

All parcels of land previously occupied by the General Hospital were ceded to MOWAA.

Speaking at a briefing in Benin City, Edo Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua said Governor Okpebholo took preeminent position with respect to healthcare delivery than a museum.

He said it was only when people are well and healthy that they could go to a museum to look at artifacts.

Prince Afegbua said the entire MOWAA structure would have been demolished if the Edo State government had not invested over N3bn in the project.

Afegbua said suspicion about activities of MOWAA arose when it was changed from Edo Museum for West African Arts (EMOWAA) to Museum for West African Arts (MOWAA).

According to him: “Removing letter E, which stands for Edo. It ought to be Edo Museum of West African Arts. For them, removing E, that was where we drew our initial suspicion. And the explanation they gave for the removal of E was not tenable. 

“By saying that it was not marketable. That to us was a slap on our face. If you respect a state for the culture and tradition that they represent, you respect the Bini empire of old as a very formidable empire that was able to stand the test of colonial invasion in 1897. 

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“And for such an empire to still exist with a king who is a cerebral diplomat, who has transferred countries to countries. And we say that that name Edo does not resonate the kind of appeal you wanted.

“We felt it was like taking the handshake beyond the elbow. Our first instinct was to demolish the entire place and restore the sanctity of the General Hospital. But again, we already invested N3bn as a state government. We can’t throw that down the drain. 

“So what we have done is a middle road solution of ensuring that their expansionist policy was curtailed. And that’s what we have done. The land that is given to them, you can go there and see the demarcation. We will monitor to ensure that they comply with the governor’s directive.

“We understand that we are coming to commission the first phase of that place. Good thing for the state that people will come and all that. But again, we cannot deny people access to healthcare delivery. And the governor is very determined to rebuild the general hospital that was demolished for the museum.”

Edo State Government has said the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo has not been careless with finances.

It said Governor Okpebholo carried out due diligence and was not carefree in spending resources.

The government said Okpebholo’s methodical approach made it easy for him to cancel any contract that was not being delivered on agreed terms.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, spoke at a news briefing on preparation for Okpebholo’s one year anniversary.

He said Edo was bleeding before Okpebholo took over the reins of power.

Afegbua said several projects in road, health care, agriculture and education had been scheduled to be inaugurated during the celebration.

He said there were numerous projects to showcase in road infrastructure, education, health care delivery and other sectors.

The commissioner said a colloquium would be held to highlight issues and perspectives of what the administration had encountered so far.

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Afegbua said speakers would be invited from within and outside the state to interrogate the administration and set a right tone for commencing the second year journey.

He said Governor Okpebholo had outperformed the opposition, which earlier denigrated him.

Afegbua said Okpebholo planned to revive ranches across the state to help curb using cattle rearing as a method of harbouring kidnappers in the name of cattle rearing and causing insecurity.

On agriculture and the return to farms initiative, Afegbua said Governor Okpebholo would grant land to investors, who wanted to invest in the state.

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has explained why his administration is fixing failed federal roads in the State.

Okpebholo said he would continue to reconstruct and repair damaged federal highways to ease sufferings of the people because he would approach the Federal Government for reimbursement of funds spent. 

The Governor, who spoke when he visited the Ogheghe–Ologbo axis of the Benin–Sapele highway, said he could not allow the daily carnage on major federal highways which his predecessor refused to handle.

According to him: “You can see for yourself how terrible this place is. This place looks as if there has never been a government here ever. The PDP government, to me, is going to be blamed for this. On Saturday, a trailer fell and got burnt here. A lot of people lost their properties around here as a result of that. So today, I have come to see for myself what actually happened. The road is terribly bad.

“I think the best way to go is the way we are going now; to fix this road by ourselves and later revert to the Federal Government for reimbursement. What we are doing is to keep this place safe for our people to ply. The contractor is working despite today being Sunday.” 

Special Adviser on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Engr. Williams Bello, said the 10.15 kilometres section was recently handed over to the Edo State Government by the Federal Ministry of Works when the Minister of Works visited the State.

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Bello said: “You can see that our Governor is being proactive. The contractor, who was already handling 23.2 kilometres of the project, is now extending work to this newly conceded section. In the middle of the road, they are already excavating for the drains. 

“This area has unsuitable materials that cannot absorb water. So, a major drainage channel, about 7.5 metres wide is being constructed to carry stormwater towards the bypass where there will be a discharge point. Since we are now in the dry season, the contractor will be able to build up the road profile and lay the stone base.”