From PDP Obaseki to APC Okpebholo, Edo governance jigsaw continues

Expectations are high as Senator Monday Okpebholo takes over the reins of power in Edo State today, after winning the September 21 governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, writes ADEYINKA ADEDIPE

Edo State people are expecting the dawn of a new era when Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress is sworn in as the next governor of the state on Tuesday (today). The people expect the ‘new sheriff’ and his team to hit the ground running and come up with implementable ideas that can move the state forward.

Okpebholo, who has been described as a humanitarian, will have to up the ante to ensure that he meets the expectations of the people who are eager for a quick fix for whatever issues they consider germane.

The outgoing government, headed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, has done its bit. Despite criticisms from the APC and political leaders in the state, some of the milestone it achieved is what the new government would be expected to build on. As typical in this clime, governor-elect Okpebholo will also jettison some programme he considers not suitable for the state. He must, however, be mindful of what he tinkers with, so, he doesn’t take the state backward.

A programme like the paperless governance, which eliminated the use of paper and carrying of files from one office to another in the state should be encouraged among other laudable deeds of the Obaseki government, while other programmes that moved the state forward should also be improved upon.

However, what is worrisome that both sides (the outgoing Obaseki and the incoming Okpebholo) could not work together for a smooth transition as the acrimony generated by the electioneering campaign and the feud between the political class and Obaseki festered without abating.

On the eve of the inauguration, there were accusations and counter accusations over the N5bn projected for the inauguration.

The APC said it had not demanded or borrowed such funds for the inauguration, adding that Senator Okpebholo had made his personal funds available when he found out what the state was putting into the event was on a high side.

Obaseki also raised the alarm that he had been sidelined from today’s event as he was not invited to the inauguration, which the APC said was laughable, noting that the governor should be the star of the occasion and needed no invitation to be at the event. More so, the APC was amused that a governor who they said had refused to cooperate with the APC transition committee was making the bogus allegation.

The outgoing government has also been able to improve the state’s Internally Generated Revenue through effective taxation and the use of e-payment platforms while the debt profile of the state has increased due to different projects it embarked upon. The incoming government must take advantage of this as it needs funds to prosecute its programmes and projects.

Despite the fact that the monthly allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee has improved since the removal of oil subsidy, the resultant effects has made life difficult for the people with the federal and state governments looking for ways to cushion the effect of these problems. So, the incoming government will have to be extra ingenious to seek funds to prosecute projects it promised the people while campaigning.

Not many envy Okpebholo, who is coming in at a time the country is witnessing an unprecedented economic downturn. However, Okpebholo has his job cut out and he must prove critics wrong and show that he has what it takes to lead a complex state with varying needs like Edo. The incoming governor must also be wary of politicians who may want to derail his administration.

Speaking of his expectations and how Okpebholo should operate, the Edo Chairman of the Conference of Registered Political Party, Samson Isibor, said the governor must carry the people along. He noted that the people’s needs should be prioritised while embarking on projects that would touch majority of the people in the state.

Isibor stated that the governor must also adhere to the dictates of the constitution, have a cordial working and personal relationship with his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, and ensure that the three arms of government functioned effectively.

Isibor said this would give everyone involved in the running a sense of belonging and minimise rancour and bickering that could derail the government.

He called on the incoming governor to tackle insecurity, kidnapping, farmers/herders clashes and other issues that could lead to lose of lives and properties, the breakdown of law and order, urging him to work with all the security outfits in the state.

He said, “For me, and I think for every discerning Edo person, my expectation will be for the governor to carry the people along in the formation and implementation of his programmes and project because the people are the ones who, whatever the state government wants to do, is meant for. There must be a deliberate effort to implement projects that will impact the people, such as tackling the insecurity challenges facing us.

“Due to the activities of killer herdsmen, farmers can no longer gain access to their farms. The high cost of living in the state is unbearable. The government should also build and rehabilitate the dilapidated schools; children should no longer sit on bare floor to learn while intra-city roads and those leading to the farms should be put in good condition.

“To be able to perform optimally, he should not allow so-called godfathers dictate to him because it has become a major problem in the country. He should be in tune with current trend, stick to his principle, and avoid controversial statements and action that will offend the psyche of the people. Finally, the party leader should give him a free hand to appointment those that he knows can work with him to deliver his electioneering promises.”

A political analyst, Donald Inwalomhe, said that the new governor should learn from the project of the outgoing governor, which has opened up the state for business opportunities, noting that Okpehbolo must have a meeting with Obaseki to learn from the past

He said, “The Governor-elect should learn from the  legacy projects of Governor Godwin Obaseki, which includes the Edo Modular Refinery, Benin River Port, CCETC-Ossiomo Power Plant, among other infrastructural projects executed to boost the state’s economy and better the livelihood of the Edo people. The 5500bpd Edo Modular Refinery, which is completed; the 55MW CCTEC-Ossiomo Power Plant, which has been completed and the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park, which is ongoing and the Benin River Port, for which preliminary works are ongoing, among other legacy projects of the Obaseki-led administration, should be part of his focus.

“The Edo Production Centre, an industrialisation programme located along the Benin-Sapele road axis, is where Small and Medium Enterprises operate. Ossiomo power plant is also meant to attract investments into the state, improve the sector for better performance, and create competition in the power supply industry.

“Benin Enterprise Park is an industrial complex. It is being built to be easily accessible, affordable, and to have an uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity. This is done to ensure that businesses in the area can operate efficiently and predictably. The industrial centre encompasses 997 hectares of land.”

Inwalomhe added, “Governor Obaseki has initiated huge investments into the palm oil sub-sector to address Nigeria’s palm oil deficit, which is more than $600m. Nigeria spends more than $600m on palm oil importation annually. Obaseki has observed that the money could be saved and injected into the economy if successive governments gave the palm oil sub-sector due attention. The investments in the state’s oil palm sector have risen to $660m, with new projects proposed by Canada-based Sunora Foods worth over $100m, and crude palm oil imports into Nigeria dropped sharply. Overall, imports saw a precipitous slump.

“The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020-2023, while imports reached its peak. From 2015 to 2023, the growth of imports remained at a lower rate and the development is coming following the $560m investment in the Edo State Oil Palm Programme  by Fast Moving Consumer Goods companies and other private investors.

“My advice for the governor-elect is to have a one-on-one meeting with Obaseki so that he can learn from the past.”

Despite the achievements of Obaseki, social critic, Osa Igunbor, stated that the absence of a smooth transition may hinder the ability of the incoming government to build on whatever was on ground. He said it’s disappointing that both teams couldn’t work together ahead of the inauguration.

He stated that though the governor-elect had his manifesto and idea of how he wanted to run the government and deliver projects to the electorate, his rate of success would have been boosted if the transition committees of the state government and that of Okpebholo worked together.

He said, “I am sure the new governor has his plans for the state. During the campaign, he must have seen what he needed to do to improve the state. The outgoing governor has done his best and the onus is now on the new governor to take it up from there.

“However, the new government will need about six months to settle down due to the fact that there was no transition as all efforts to collaborate was futile. I believe that no matter the situation, the incoming government will have no excuse not to perform.

“Now that we have an APC government in Edo, hopefully they can collaborate with the government at the centre to fix the Benin-Auchi road and other federal roads that are in deplorable state in Edo. The new governor has a huge task in his hands and he should not surround himself with incompetent people if he hopes to succeed. While he may want to compensate people who helped him realise his ambition, he must be sure that they are competent people.”

Okpebholo has already made his intention to hit the ground running known by appointing Fred Itua as his Chief Press Secretary on Monday. The appointment, the first of the incoming administration, takes effect today, according to a statement personally signed by Senator Okpebholo.

Itua is a distinguished journalist with a wealth of experience, having previously served as the Assistant Political Editor at The Sun newspapers. His proven track record in journalism, coupled with his dedication to maintaining high standards in public communication, will serve as crucial assets to the new administration as it aims to fulfill its mandate for the people of Edo State.

This appointment reinforces Okpebholo’s commitment to fostering transparency and effective communication within his administration, ensuring that the voices and needs of the citizens are prioritised.

While the incoming governor must as a matter of accountability look into the books of the former government to have an idea of what needs to be done to move the state forward, he should not be seen to be pursuing vendetta against the immediate past government as he may lose focus. Such a move might be counterproductive for his government and dim the peoples’ expectations.