On the 11th of February, 2025, it was 100 days that Governor Monday Okpebholo assumed office in Edo State.

How has the journey been? To answer this question adequately requires a review of the challenges that his predecessor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, left behind.

Obaseki knows that he won’t be able to face searing questions over them. Hence, a report had it that he fled Benin City on November 8, 2024 in an unmarked bus through a border out of Nigeria, heavily disguised. Yet, with diabolical braggadocio on November 4, 2024he boasted that he was not afraid of EFCC’s arrest for his alleged corrupt offences while in office.

His official spokesman, Crusoe Osagie, claims that Obaseki travelled abroad to rest and undertake medical checkup. Well, his explanation is not comprehensive because Edo people with divine discernment know that Obaseki also fled the country in an attempt to escape from the mess that he created as a governor.

Obaseki is typically a selfish governor with little public good and conscience in him, being selfish puts him clinically in the class of persons with post-traumatic stress disorder to use the categorization of Dr. Passy Amaraegbu in an article published in The Guardian of February 24, 2019.

According to the medical expert, the worst manifestations of human selfishness are apathy; as well as lack of sympathy and empathy in relationships with people.

Dr, Amaraegbu adds: “sometimes selfish people place a higher premium on their pets than on their fellow human beings”.

From the foregoing, one can understand why selfish Obaseki’s rule generated a lot of mess in Edo State.

To start with, he left Edo people more impoverished than he met them in 2016 because of his IMF/World Bank’s Policy of privatization and commercialization of life in Edo state. In other words, Obaseki’s administration was more interested in growing the GPD of Edo State than in proving the democratic dividends for the people. Hence, his government only focused on cash crop’s production, thus neglecting food security.

During his rule, food was scarce and when available it was very expensive; therefore similarly, medicare, housing, transportation as well as education were out of reach of the common man in Edo State. Too true, Obaseki, believed in market fundamentalism. He also encouraged profiteering by unions and associations at the expense of suffering Edo people.

This is not all. Obaseki promoted loss and fight of capital by using consultants and foreign contractors when there is a pool of indigenous manpower that can do even better than them. As if this is not enough, he superimposed outsiders on the civil service in the state; thus disrupting the career growth of core civil servants.

The road’s he built were at slow, millipede speed that didn’t last the test if time. Most of them went bad before the contractors left the site. Sometimes, the roads were half-completed or abandoned entirely after mobilization funds were paid.

Moreover, despite renaming of Ministry of works as Ministry of Roads and Bridges as well as sponsoring its officials to South Africa for a global road conference, weak roads were built by the Obaseki administration while no single bridge was constructed throughout his tenure in office.

Despite all the inanities, Obaseki celebrated himself at press chats or interviews as a successful governor deploying media hype. Unknown to him, knowledgeable Edo people know that he is only a talkative, loquacious and failed politician low in practical governance but high on empty rhetoric. For instance, while Edo people were earnestly waiting for democratic dividends from Obaseki, he was engaged in diversionary theoretical exposition of democracy as if he was at a conference, symposium, classroom or lecture theatre.

A case in point. On the 30th of June 2024 in a chat with journalists in Benin City, he said: “Democracy is not a destination in itself. It is a process. It will always be better. Things will always be better than you met them.”

Of course, such a treatise from Obaseki was nothing more than a wind song. Here today, gone tomorrow.

It never put food on the table for Edo people neither did it provide housing, motorable roads, cheap transportation, safety, security nor accessible medicare for the electorate.
Did Obaseki’s talkshows give us a clean environment? No. There was filth everywhere. Edo State during his tenure was among the dirtiest states in Nigeria.

Oshiomhole as a Governor of Edo State from 2008-2016 began the modernization of the ancient city of Benin City. He launched the Benin Water Storm Project to deflood the city; built durable roads complete with pedestrian walkways; as well as ensured the city was clean. However, Obaseki reversed these laudable progressive achievements through his political pettiness of discontinuing the policy of Oshiomhole on which platform he started off as a governor in 2016.

What is more? Obaseki allowed state and non-state actors unlimited freedom to unleash terror on Edo people in the guise of increasing Internally Generated Revenue in Edo State.

At the end of the day, his administration orchestrated the return of Agberoism in the state which contributed to revenue leakages. Besides Agberosim, Edo State witnessed an upsurge in cultism a great source of insecurity and crime in the state as acknowledge by the police authority.

Sadly enough, Obaseki was unable to put in place a security outfit to fight crime in a sustainable way from 2020 to mid-2024. However, during the last segment of his administration in 2024 he quickly organized a private army of PDP, he called Edo vigilantes, with which he planned to rig the governorship election in September 2024 to ensure that Dr. Asue Aghodalo won it. His evil plan was discovered and a ban was imposed on the nebulous security outfit by the Nigeria Police Force.

Put simply, Edo people suffered a lot from insecurity at home, on the roads and an their farms when Obaseki ruled. Obaseki did not fair any better in Education. He abandoned Oshiomole’s transformative policy for schools and the provision of classroom infrastructure for pupils/students alike. In their place, he introduced EDO BEST digital learning platform in Edo State where there is shortage of teachers, classrooms, seats, writing boards and good roofs.

Worse still, there is poor, ineffectual electricity to power the gadgets used for EDO BEST and insufficient funds for data.

Lest one forget, Obaseki, showed much interest in EDO BEST programme which covered primary 1 –JSS 11 neglecting schools most of which have no libraries or physics, biology and chemistry laboratories.

In addition, Obaseki, starved state-owned tertiary institutions of funds by reducing subventions to them with the sinister agenda of commercializing higher education in the state. Some activists at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma protested the action of Obaseki who in anger directed the university authority to disengage them.

Much more, Obaseki lived on the oxygen life support of serial unresolved created problems, crises, disputes and controversies which rocked the peaceful foundation of equity, fairness, natural justice and egalitarian Edo Society. Under him, therefore, centrifugal forces were unleashed in the socio-political life of the average Edo Citizen and resident.

For instance, he refused to swear in three out of the eight high court judge nominees approved by the National Judicial Council for personal and political reasons best known to him. Also, he triggered off an unnecessary cries of succession to the office of governor which ended in a steaming dispute between his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu, and himself.

Later, he instigated the impeachment of Shaibu who got a court order reinstating him as deputy governor.

However, Obaseki rejected the directive and retained Godwins Omobayo as his new deputy governor until he left office. Consequently Edo as the time Obaseki’s tenure ended, it had a defacto and dejure deputy governor in the person of Godwins Omobayo and Hon. Philip Shaibu, respectively, in that order.

Obaseki, under this illegal arrangement, paid Godwins Omobayo all the salaries and
entitlements of a ‘deputy governor’.

Invariably, Obaseki left behind a rotten can of financial rascality for the succeeding governor who will now bear the burden of paying all of Shaibu’s entitlements from the
day of his impeachment to when his tenure as deputy governor elapsed officially on
November 11, 2024. Impliedly, Obaseki created a mess in which Edo people tax is
used illegally to pay Godwins Omobayo whose appointment was nullified by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Obaseki’s action isn’t surprising. He is known for financial wastages. Revelations by an interim report of Edo State Asset Verification Committee released in December 2024 show he spent N3.8 billon on the Museum for West African Arts (MOWAA), yet, Edo state has no equity share in it. Also, under his tenure, the 18 local governments in the state squandered N83 billion within a year with no people-oriented projects to show for this humongous amount as uncovered by Edo State Government.

What is more? He “donated” N3 billion to market unions, association as well as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) so as to lure them to vote for his PDP governorship candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, during the September 2024 election.

Recall, too, Obaseki valedictory fiscal irresponsibility of withdrawing over N14 billion within 7 days while twisting the hand of Mr. Julius Anelu, the accountant-general of
Edo State. The EFCC was alarmed by the move and invited Anelu for questioning.

While Obaseki appointed Mr. Julius Alenkhe as acting accountant-general. And, so,
under Obaseki, Edo State had both a substantive accountant-general as well as an
acting accountant-general at the same time in a demonstration of voodoo governance that is self-serving, for which he is known.

Furthermore, Obaseki is alleged to have used his firm, Afrinvest, to siphon public funds
through the provision of business advice and project finance at inflated fees. In summary, Obaseki in a way can be said to have run a corrupt administration that was not open but overtly secretive. To confirm this view, Obaseki never disclosed to Edo people that the Federal Government has begun the refund of Edo’s share of oil revenue owed to the Niger Delta States until then Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers state released the information.

Also, Obaseki didn’t tell Edo people he governed that Edo State received 20 truckloads of palliative rice. The people know of the development from insiders as well as federal government sources. Indeed, Obaseki, didn’t operate a democracy but a plutocracy that left a whopping suspicious contract debts of N200 billion for the incoming administration.

To crown it all, Obaseki in a bid to destabilize Benin Kingdom dusted up the abandoned 1979 law on Traditional institutions in Edo state and introduced it. The law created division in the kingdom by establishing seven traditional councils in Edo South Senatorial District thus delimiting the statutory rights, privileges and powers of the Oba of Benin who from ancient times is the undisputed paramount king of all Edo-speaking people.

This is not Obaseki’s first assault on the revered Oba of Benin. Earlier on, Obaseki unsuccessfully claimed state’s ownership of the returned artefacts looted from the Benin palace of Oba Ovonranmwen in 1879 during the British invasion of Benin Kingdom. Secondly, he created a cultural district in Benin City which included the location of Oba’s palace without the consultation of the Oba to show respect for him.

Thirdly, Obaseki instituted a criminal suit against the Oba’s palace over its attempt to recover its sacred land in Ulegun Community encroached on by land grabbers. In a way, therefore, it is apparent that Obaseki was at war with Benin Kingdom during his tenure.

To again demonstrate his hatred for peace in traditional institutions, he imposed unilaterally new rulers in Okpella and South-Ible Kingdoms that set them on the path of internal conflict, crisis and conflagration on the eve of his departure from office.

On November 11, 2024 a man called the Area Parliament programme of Rhythm Radio, Benin moderated by Mr. Abraham Asoro. The man, in a lachrymose voice, reviewed Obaseki’s tenure as governor of Edo State for a while. Then, he added with regret: “Obaseki’s tenure was a complete waste. I score him zero!!”. Indeed Obaseki boasted that he would finish strong with his make Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda. But he ended up in abysmal failure, finishing weak as a governor.

Obaseki’s failure was foretold by several people who knew his poor emotional intelligence, serial attitude of betraying his principals, behavioral ingratitude, dictatorial disposition, outrageous temper, unforgiving spirit reckless outburst, self-righteousness, pathological fixation for pecuniary benefits, apathy towards others, poor showings in empathy as well as deficient political skills. In contrast, senator Monday Okpebholo is an entirely different person with a likable profile.

To begin with, he is an experienced politician being one-time personal assistant to the oracle of Nigerian Politics, late Chief Tony Anenih simply put, it was Anenih who taught and mentored him on the nitty-gritties of politics. Also, he was a senator representing Edo Central before aspiring to be governor of Edo state. Therefore, he is no stranger to politics like Obaseki who was foisted on the state as governor from the corporate world where he was not doing so well.

Additionally, Okpebholo is already a successful businessman before he chose to run for the governorship ticket of Edo State. Thus, he was equipped to hit the ground running as soon as he was sworn in as governor on November 11, 2024 armed with a kind heart of empathy that is bringing back smiles to the anguished faces of Edo people and resident. His empathy is infectious in every of his words and deeds because of his background as an orphan in an African setting of poverty.

Unlike Obaseki who purchase his PDP gubernatorial ticket in 2020, Okpebholo got his in 2024 by dint of hard work and massive support of APC members. Therefore, he received the presidential endorsement of Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 5, 2024 when chieftains of the APC officially presented him to Tinubu. Indeed, Okpebholo is the proverbial politician of destiny he who has washed his hands so clean that he sits at table with elders of his party to eat, today, as a beloved governor.

In his first 100 days in office, Okpebholo has solidly kept faith with the biographical profiles of his campaign handlers not departing from them one inch.

In retrospect, the Diaspora movement told voters: “Okpebholo is a man with simple, local and global solutions to Edo State challenges; a man with unique grammar without deceitful embellishments; a man that is kind, humane, and compassionate and is full of empathy; and a man who is more of a doer than a talker”

Another campaign statement said that Okpebholo believes in the progress of movement and not the inertia of the barber’s wheel motion.

Still his campaigners stated that he does not make false promise, and is a team player who strongly under takes wide consultations before taking decisions.

So far, Okpebholo’s actions have shown he is what his campaigners said about him. This accounts for the huge trust Edo people have for him today. Hence, he is quickly restoring the bond of affection between the state and the electorate which broke down during the administration of Obaseki, known for leaning on the clutches of big grammar, media hypes and febrile propaganda to shore up failed promises that disconnected him from the people rating district for him.

On July 30, 2024 Okpebholo announced to the electorate: “I am coming to introduce practical governance in Edo State.”

Already, he is doing so. He said that he will put God first in all he does. He was sworn in as governor at 12:29 on November 12, 2024. The next day, he organized “Edo praise concert” to celebrate God for his victory in Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin as well as herald a New Edo that is rising from the impotent ashes that Obaseki reduced it. He was physically present at the religious event at which he sang praises to God and danced his hearts out for him without executive restraints.

Later on November 21, 2024 he was at Winners Church, Irrua for thanksgiving where he revealed how close to God he is as a true Christian in a speech there.

Hear him: “In Nigeria and indeed the world no prophet or native doctor can claim that I visited him for the help in winning the election. The only factor I recognize is God. As a member of Winners Church, I am confident that we cannot be losers.

“While others were strategizing and utilizing media outlets, I trusted in the Lord and he granted me victory."

It is because God gave Okpebholo victory in the September, 2024 Governorship Election that he reveres, fear him and has selflessly run the affairs of Edo State with a divine guidance, not the epicurean of mammon, unlike Obaseki, there Okpebholo vows that he will always seek the face of God in the matter of security, infrastructural development, healthcare, food security and education.

Besides demonstrating his practicality in governance in the religious domain, he has equally show it in other areas. For instance, a day after he was sworn in, Okpebholo ordered all contractors to site. He also visited Ramat Park, Benin axis where Edo first overhead bridge is to be built as well as major roads in Benin City requiring urgent attention.

Six days later, Okpehbolo was at Obadan Road, in Esan Central where he declared in clear, unequivocal terms that he won’t waste his energy talking or sitting in the comfort of air-conditioned office. Rather, he would deploy his energy outdoor to work for Edo people.

He stated: “My administration is prepared to work for the people. It is work, work and more work for my administration.

“This Obadan road is very important to us. It leads to Agbor, Onitsha and the Northern part of the country. The road is very strategic to us, it is important as it will boost the economy of the state."

On January 24, 2025 Okpebholo was again at Obadan Road which he inspected up to Opoji junction to ensure the constractor rehabilitating the road was working according to schedule. During the visit, also, he inspected the Benin/Ekpoma/Auchi Express Road to see how reconstruction work on the failed portion was progressing. He disclosed to a cheering crowd of onlookers that his administration was responsible for the repairs on the road, adding that the constractor on site had been given marching orders to complete work on the road before the rainy season.

Once again, Okpebholo is affirming that he is not going to be an absentee, sitting duck governor holed up in his office allowing road contractors to choose their pace, quality of work and time frame for work delivery. For him, a new Edo must rise in no distant time. The old days of delayed, unsupervised infrastructural projects, road contract will be again allowed to hold the state to ransom, he emphasized, while implementing his emergency template on road building and repairs.

In fact, his determination to give Edo people motorable functional roads, made him to jettison the name ministry of Roads and bridges for the Ministry of works, known to have given Edo State good roads in the past. Okpebholo further gives reason for his action: “Since no bridges or good roads were constructed by the administration of Obaseki, it is therefore absurd to maintain such and call a government Institution Ministry of Roads And Bridges. Ironically no single bridge was built by the same administration. Not even a pedestrian bridge.”

Besides taking practical governance to roads, Okpebholo has done so for other development area. To start with, on November 18, 2024 he was at Ebomisi Secondary School in Ugbogiobo community abandoned by the previous Obaseki administration over its support for the APC in the September 2024 governorship election. He promised to rebuild the school within two months.

Then, he added more goodies. “We will provide security, quality education and portable water for members of the community.”

On November 19, 2024 indefatigable Okpebholo was at Oke Oroma Community with the deputy governor Hon. Dennis Idahosa. A land dispute broke out in the community resulting in the demolition of building and structures in breach of the rule of law. Okpebholo brought a message of renewed hope for peace, natural justice, equity, security and fairness to people of the community, saying, “Government will set up a commission of enquiry on the land dispute. We will check if C of O is already issued for the land belonging to the people. If there is and the report says so I will revoke that and return the land to the people."

His next visit was to Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City. Obaseki in a hurry had only painted the building of the hospital, fitted it with air conditioners and commissioned it uncompleted to the disappointment of Edo people who are aware Rabiu Foundation gave his administration a grant of N2.2billion to equip the hospital.

Okpebholo didn’t hide his disgust at what he saw at the medical facility, he lamented:
“This is a sham. Construction was ongoing when he commissioned the building of the hospital. This is unacceptable. It is cheating to Edo people.

“We will come back again to talk with the contractor to see how to commission for Edo People."

Okpebholo has kept his promises so far since he assumed office. Consequently, there is no need to doubt that he would complete the work at Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin. Afterall, healthcare improvement is one of his five development agenda.

In fact, to showcase this fact, in just 100 days, he has resolved the lingering crisis bedeviling medical graduates of the College of Medicine of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma for about 10 years preventing 128 students of the college from becoming doctors after graduating in August 2024. Also, thanks to the timely intervention of Okpebholo, these students were inducted as qualified medical doctors on February 13, 2025 by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

The pettiness and unserious manner with which Obaseki treated the case of the medical students also played out at New Era College, Benin where he warehoused educational materials donated by Tinubu for distribution to pupils and students in Edo State to mark his first anniversary in office. Obaseki refused to distribute the educational items all because they bore the face of the president.

Immediately, Okpebholo got information about the issue on December 10, 2024 he rushed to New Era College, Benin and personally supervised the distribution of the educational items about 7 months after they were delivered to the state by the Tinubu administration on May 2023.

During the exercise, Okpebholo noted: “The action of the former governor is an act of wickedness of the highest order”.

He observed while also inspecting New Era College, Benin that it was in a state of rot. So, he approved the school for immediate renovation. Invariably, through a physical mix of office and field work, he is able to identify a critical intervention required in the State that would have evaded his radar were he confines to desk work in his office.

At this juncture, it is important to say that 100 days in office of Governor Monday Okpebholo has also witnessed his restorative effort in Edo State aimed at bringing back the glory of its institutions, facilities which Obaseki out of vindictiveness attempted to erode or allowed to be in limbo. Below is a short list of them.


PALACE of BENIN MONARCH.

On November 24, 2024 Okpebholo restored the full statutory ancestral powers, functions, rights, privileges and reverence accorded the palace and Oba of Benin by nullifying the 1979 Law on traditional institutions introduced by Obaseki in Edo State.

Okpebholo, consequently, abolished the new seven parallel traditional councils Obaseki created in Edo South Senatorial District. Impliedly Okpebholo restored the full financial entitlements of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC).

Furthermore, Okpebholo distanced himself from the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA), a Project of Obaseki and gave his alloyed support to the Oba’s Benin Royal Museum for housing the returned artefacts looted from the palace in 1879 during the puncture British invasion of Benin Kingdom in line with the published Federal Government notice of 2023.


THREE REJECTED EDO HIGH COURT NOMINEE JUDGES.

Eight nominees were approved by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in June, 2023 to be sworn in as High Court Judges. But the former Governor, Obaseki selectively with impudence only swore in five of them leaving out Ojo Maureen Osa, Okundamiya Godwin Jeff and Edoghogho Eboigbe.

On becoming governor in November 2024, Okpebholo looked into the plight of the three nominee judges and on the basis of sound legal advice, he discovered that Obaseki erred by refusing to swear them into office placing personal vendetta above the dikta of legal jurisprudence.

So, on December 2nd, 2024 Okepbholo swore them into office, thus ending their six months ordeal on the occasion, Okpebholo pointed out:
“For me, no one should be discriminated against, marginalized or hated for personal reasons or on account of not having a godfather.” By his statement, Okpehbolo read the riot act that during his administration the days of godfathers are over.

Governance will strictly be based now on meritocracy as he has also demonstrated through his appointments, programmes and projects so far in his 100 days in office.

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. On the same December 2, 2024 that Okpeholo swore in the three judge nominees, he also issued an executive order directing the immediate reinstatement of all disengaged staff of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in March 2023, by the Odious special Intervention Team appointed by Obaseki to run the institution after unilaterally sacking the governing council for asserting its independence and rejecting all entreaties to do his bidding of privatizing fees in the school.

Okpebholo saw the removal of the staff as vindictive witch-hunt from spearheading the agitation to send the special Intervention Team pucking, restore a governing council for the university and pay all the outstanding salaries of staff members. Without mincing words, he declared that his decision to reinstate the disengaged staff is inspired by “the principle of natural justice, equity, good conscience and rule of law.”

Beyond this widely applauded action of re-engaging the university staff, Okpebholo halted Obaseki’s move to fully privatize education in Edo Tertiary Institution out of the reach of the average citizen in the State. He increased the subvention to Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma to an all-time N500 million monthly up from the meagre N41million monthly handout by Obaseki to the University. In addition, Okpebholo in 2025 budgeted N48 billion for the capital development of the state owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma as well as other tertiary institution.

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that Okpebholo in his first 100 days committed himself to breathing new life into the state owned tertiary institutions in defiance of Obaseki style of abandoning them and placing emphasis on EDO BEST programme.


EDO LINE/OBA OVORAMWEN SQUARE

On the 5th December, 2024 in pursuance of practical governance Okpebholo paid an inspection visit to both the moribund Edo Line Transport company in Benin with the deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa he was taken aback by how the company was overtaken by weeds and stated that his administration would restore the abandoned company to its former glory. His alluring message of hope and redemption at the company’s premises was equally re-echoed at the Oba Ovonranmwen square, Benin. It has lost its architectural appeal and magnetic essence as a tourist attraction because since 2020, the immediate past governor, Obaseki allowed it to rot away to spit Oshiomhole whom he is at loggerhead with even though he helped him into office.

Yet the Oba Ovonranmwen Square is not only the heart of Benin City, the capital of Edo State but is at the epicenter of Obaseki cultural district created by him to showcase Edo State rich arts and culture, according to him. As at press time, Okpebholo is working hard to rehabilitate the square. In no distant time, its famous fountain would be restored to the delight of fun seekers and tourists coming to have a feel of a new rising Edo State, that Okpebholo promised at this campaign.

A few meters away from the Oba Ovonranmwen square is the artistic masterpiece Oba Akenzua II Cultural center, Benin. Paradoxically, it is within the perimeter of Obaseki cultural district but he abandoned it to the elements after using it as a transport hub for years.

Well, with Okpebholo now at the helm of affairs in Edo State, better days have come for the center. On November 24, 2024 he declared that “he will restore the edifice to a suitable condition for its original purpose."


EDO SPECIALIST HOSPITAL.

It was under a foreign consultancy and fully commercialized during Obaseki’s tenure. Although, the medical facility was built with tax payers money, it was not available, accessible and afforadable to most Edo citizens because of the high cost of medicare at the hospital.

On December 4, 2024 Okepbholo stepped in the reverse the ugly trend of ceding the management of the health facility to a foreign consultant when there is a pool of qualified indigenes that can run it effectively. He appointed Dr. Mrs. Anthonia Inibokun, with immediate effect, as the new managing director of the hospital. Before her appointment she was a lecturer at the College of Medical Science of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Her mandate is to make health care at the hospital affordable to the sick who patronize the hospital.

Literally, a new modern central hospital is reborn in Benin City from the rubbles of the old one demolished by Obaseki to pave way for his ill-fated Museum for West African Arts (MOWAA) project that is neither here nor there. Indeed, in 100 days Okpebholo has restored to Edo people cherished health facility in central Benin Metropolis taken away from then by Obaseki.


NIGERIA OBSERVER/EDO BROADCASTING SERVICE.

Although Obaseki loves media publicity, he didn’t fully reposition the state owned Nigerian Observer and Edo Broadcasting Service, Benin to assist in promoting his activities. He chose, rather to rely on other media outlets to advance his interest.

With Okpebholo in the saddle as governor for the first hundred days, things have become anew. He has cleaned up the Nigerian Observer of Obaseki propaganda cronies and returned core observer staff to their old posts from the ministries, department and agencies to which Obaseki dispersed them earlier.

Also, Okpebholo is turning around Edo Broadcasting Service, Benin for the first time in Edo State history, he gave the media outfit a managing director, Sulaiman Aledeh, to oversee the activities of the television and radio arms of the broadcast station. Previously, Obaseki operated an anomalous system of running the broadcast outfit with a general manager when the standard practice, globally is to appoint a managing director as head of a media outfit with both a television and radio arm.

During his 100 days in office, Okpebholoalso met twice with the management of Edo Broadcasting Service, Benin. At the first meeting the management, led by Sulaiman Aledeh, paid a working visit to Okpeholo to inform him of the challenges the service is facing. Soon after this visit, Okpebholo was at Edo Broadcasting Service, Benin Headquarters to see things for himself. While there, he discovered that the service was really saddle with the challenges of lack of electricity from Ossiomo Power Company, bad roads, within the premises of the media outfit and poor studio, among others.

He promised to address the challenges, noting: "We want the station to keep running for 24hours.”

To achieve this goal, Okpebholo explored a solar solution to the Edo Broadcasting Service, Benin power problem. However, in the interim, he stated that a brand new generator would be supplied to the service. Before leaving for his office, Okpebholo announced that he is open to media criticisms by the service even though it is owned by the state government.

His words, “I am telling you in the open to criticize me when I am going wrong because I am here to serve Edo people.”

Therefore, unlike Obaseki the former governor, Okpebholo does not play God who is infallible. He open to corrections and criticism. During his first 100 days in office he has exemplified trait by talking less and listening more to public advice for either policy making review or consolidation that help him to marshal his 5-point agenda in positive directions.

Also, by saying that he is open to public criticisms at Edo Broadcasting Service Benin, Okpebholo shows his belief in the independence of the press. His healthy respect for the impactful fourth estate of the realm is not in doubt, too. After all, the first appointment he made before being sworn in as governor was that of the Chief press secretary, Fred Itua on November 11, 2024. Finally, his visit to Edo Broadcasting Service, Benin moreover reveals another character trait of Okpebholo. It is that he redeems his promise.

Few days after promising to give the service a branch new generator, he did therefore. Today, the power challenge of the service is being frontally addressed. In addition, because of the support Okpebholo is giving the service. It is quickly making serious effort to reactivate its relay substation at Ivue in Edo Central that was abandoned and leased out to a private investor by the previous administration of Obaseki. The other relay substationin Edo North is also being rehabilitated by the service while effort is being made to recruit reporters that will feed it with news from the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

In the same vein, the Nigeria observer and the ministry of Information and Communication are being repositioned for better performance under a new commissioner in the ministry. Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, who is on familiar turf having once headed it years ago. A lot of reforms have, indeed taken place in the state owned media outfits in the first 100 days of Okpebholo as governor of Edo State. The foundation has been laid for them to compete favourably with their counterparts in the global world of professional media excellence rather than continue as praise singers of government as it was in Obaseki’s era.

Much has, more has been achieved in the area of security in 100 days of Okpebholo in office as governor. On November 29, 2024 he lifted the suspension of Edo Security Network, a contraption Obaseki created to rig the September 2024 governorship election, replacing it with Edo security Corps driven by diligent, public service under a new management. Furthermore, Okpebholo donated 20 patrol vehicles to security agencies in the State to enhance their work of safeguarding the state.

To curb crime by restless, idle and energetic youths, he gave an approval for 25,000 of them to be empowered with self-reliant skills. Then, on January 24, 2025 he signed into law harsher punishments for cultists and other allied criminals.The new law repealed that of 2018 which was hardly implemented by Obaseki. Under the current law that Okpebholo vows to enforce with an iron first, it is death sentence, twenty one years imprisonment and confiscation of or demolition of offenders properties as the case may be.

He declared: “As the governor of Edo State cultism cannot be allowed here. We must end it and very fast too. Edo must be safe”.

In the area of food security for Edo people, Okpebholo has not been found wanting. A sizeable chunk of the 2025 budget was allocated to food crop cultivation which the assembly keyed into and had to increase the agriculture sector allocation by N70billion to guarantee there is sufficient funds to implement Okpebholo’s agenda on food security. Beyond farm mechanization for meeting this goals, he distributed fertilizers to properly screened end-use farmers in all the three senatorial districts of the state for dry and wet season farming. Additionally, the ministry is compiling a data base of Young Farmers Clubs in schools for use in delivering farm inputs to them for food production.

With Okpebholo, the days of docile, theoretical Young Framer’s Club are over. Also, the ministry has called on garden owners to register with it and obtain free farm inputs from the government. All these innovative bold actions during Okpebholo 100 days in office showcases his resolve to make food available and affordable to Edo State citizens at cheap prices. Recruitment of teachers got equal attention like other agenda during Okpebholo 100 days in office. He is fully aware that there is crippling shortage of teachers in public schools however he is addressing the problem carefully. For instance, he inherited teachers hurriedly recruited by Obaseki few weeks to its departure without transparency. To Okpebholo, this is unacceptable resulting in his rejection of these teachers. In contrast, he says that his administration is committed to filling existing vacancies in public schools in phases. According to him, 500 vacancies for teachers will first be filled for which all eligible persons in Edo State are eligible to apply with no strings of godfathers and influencers attached. So far, there is no indication that Okpebholo will continue with EDOBEST Programme of Obaseki.

Throughout the 100 days of Okpebholo as governor he has displayed open disdain for the programme which he explains is not a priority in Edo State when there are pressing challenges of insufficient teachers, classrooms seats as well as instructional learning materials in public schools.

Similarly Okpehbolo is unmistakably reviewing all the MOUs entered into by Obaseki “to ensure that the interest of Edo State is protected now and in the immediate future.”

Also, he set up Edo State Assets Verification Committee in a bid to have an authentic data base of all assets and liabilities of the state given that the Transition Committee of Obaseki reneged on the request of that of Okpebholo to provide it with true comprehensive details of the information. It is expected that very soon this administration will have a full update of all the states assets and liabilities required for informed governance.

There are still more cheering news of 100 days of Okpebholo in office. He has set up a committee to recover government vehicles from former officials of Obaseki administration. A Rapid Response Team was created by him to clear Benin Metropolis of street grinders and traffic gridlocks. He has given the Waste Disposal Board modern equipment for refuse evacuation, pledge N20,000 to whistle blowers who expose waste dumpers in unapproved locations and has established a task force to which illegal activities in the state should be reported.

In addition, Okpebholo within 100 days has signed some bills into laws for the purpose of good governance. One of the laws prescribes harsher sanctions for cultisms and other related crimes. Another law raised the retirement age of magistrates from 60 to 65. A third law increase the membership of Edo Oil agency/commission in the spirit of inclusiveness in governance that Okpebholo has demonstrated in setting up all the committees, rapid response team and task force on illegal activities within his 100 days in office.

Edo people have awarded him several praise during his 100 days in office, some of them are:

Akpako Messaih
Akpako Miracle
Akpako Wonder
Akpako Rescue Edo State
Akpako Restore Edo State
Akpako Secure Edo State
Akpako Revitalize Edo State
Akpako Rebuild Edo State
Akpako Reform Edo State
Akpako Reposition Edo State
Akpako Reconstruct Edo State.

For purposes of clarity “Akpako is an abbreviation of “AkpakoMiza the alias of Okpebholo. On his part, a man who calls himself Radio Petitioner on November 20, 2024 is extremely fascinated by the wondrous work of Okpebholo is 100 days in a phone. He apologized to Okpebholo for not voting for him in the September 2024 Governorship Election and thereafter celebrates him with a song he titled in Benin language “Uwhe Se Akpako Miza."

The palace of Oba of Benin also has celebrated Okpebholo for his success stories so far as governor of Edo State. A letter from the palace endorsed by prominent Benin Chiefs, thanked Okpehbolo for his significant move to restore the Oba full statutory powers, rights and privileges early eroded by Obaseki with his introduction of the1979 law on Traditional Institutions in Edo State. The letter ends with these words; "The Omo N’Oba prays for God Almighty to continue to strengthen and guide your Excellency as you continue to bring about a meaningful and robust transformation of Edo State.”

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has a new executive in Edo State led by Comrade Saturday Oamen. At the inauguration to the union in Benin City on December 20, 2024. The acting Edo chairman of the NLC, Comrade Bernard Joman, commended Okpebholo for his role in ushering in change in the NURTW.

He said: “For over 20 years now one person, has been chairman of NURTW in Edo. But the performingGovernor of Edo State came and rescued the union and the people of Edo State.....we thank the Governor for his move to restore the union back to its former glory by ensuring the right thing is done.”

It is not only Comrade Bernard Joman of Edo NLC who feels that Okpebholo is righteous governor with a winnowing Baptistan fork set out to redefine governance in Edo State. Comrade Lucky Orukpe with over 25 years as president, Traders Welfare Association of Nigeria in the struggle to liberalize market unions/associations in the state also holds this view about Okpebholo doing what is right in the sight of God.

Lucky Orukpe adds: “When a righteous man like Okpehbolo is in office, the people celebrate. But there is mourning when the unrighteous are in power”. Righteousness aside, during his 100 days in office as governor, Okpebholo has shown a large measure of humility compassion, sympathy, empathy and emotional intelligence which account for his seamless ability to organically bound with his deputy governor, APC party chieftains, public officials of his administration, Edo people in general as well as the presidency.

Also, the qualities of him is responsible for his locomotive drive to, without hesitation, reach out to late Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodun’s family when he passed on in unfortunate circumstances. During the condolence visit, he promised his daughter a job and fulfilled his offer. Similarly, emblem Okpebholo donated N10 million at the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance day on December 13, 2024, while he wholeheartedly commiserated with victims of flood/fire disasters in the state offering them relief materials as succor. Recently, too, he was at the homes of injured and dead officials of Edo Fire Service on sympathy visits.

On December 11, 2024 when Okpebholo was barely 30 days in office, Senator Adams Aliu Oshiomhole said at a valedictory session for him in the senate chambers: “His humility is infectuous and yet, as a man of few words he has made up for that through actions and sustained action in a manner that is clear and discernible...... on behalf of the people of Edo State we are happy that we have a new sheriff in town, a progressive one for that matter.”

Yes, when Okpebholo was only 30 days in office as governor he was already making significant impact in governance to the administration of Edo State.

Now, at 100 days on the saddle he has further done so much to even surpass the exaggerated expectations of the people. Under him, a new Edo State is, indeed, is rising. Internally Generated Revenue is increasing hitting over N10 billion in the month of January 2025 giving hope that the governor would be able to meet his campaign promises to the people.

More revenue inflows translates into more democratic dividends. Unlike Obaseki, who is fixated with revenue and capital accumulation for use for elitist investment, Okpebholo spends funds to benefit the people. Hence, on February 5, 2025 he introduced free shuttle service for people of the state.

Too true, Okpebholo in 100 days is ushering a new dawn of people-centric democracy in Edo State never seen before especially as demonstrated with the announcement of appointment of Theophilus Egbodion, as chairman of the Edo State disability commission that will drive enforcement of the state's disability law enacted protects rights of persons living with disabilities in Edo State.