First of all, the point must be made that no matter the good intentions of Governor Okpebholo to deepen the conversation of governance in Edo, naysayers will always pick holes. The reality of the present London meet got them wondering how the Governor was able to pull this one through so successfully and in such a seamless manner without a hitch.
It was the first time a sitting Governor of Edo state was able to rally round the people to discuss unity, engage in robust interactions, open up room for robust investment opportunities, and reassuring the people that Edo was safe back home. According to the Governor in his opening speech; “the common denominator of our meeting here is the word; Edo, because we are Edo”.
Naysayers will always remain naysayers. They will rake up mud and slam good intentions. One participant was angry he was not called to ask questions. Another said it was a jamboree, yet some said it was a waste of resources. But the reality of that summit is that it was largely self sponsored, not by government but by individuals.
By now, people ought to have come to terms with Governor Okpebholo’s style when it comes to spending. He spends more on projects and economic activities that would have impact on the people than he does with political events. Ask anybody within government, the story will get clearer. Instead, he loves to see progression in his numerous projects. He doesn’t enjoy wasting resources for frivolities. His prudent management of resources is the reason why he’s able to jumpstart the new Edo narrative without borrowing a single penny thus far.
The London summit offered an opportunity to bring the Diaspora back home to Edo. They listened to the Edo leadership and the opportunities that abound back home. The Governor’s plea that they should return home to invest was borne out of the fact that he had made significant investment in securing the lives and property of the people. Edo is a work in progress.
The Governor is in a hurry to complete ongoing projects to give room for new ones. The Governor used the opportunity of that event to interact, socialise and consolidate the homogeneous structure of the Edo collective. Building unity and solidarity across borders will help to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. A conducive environment and stable polity are essential ingredients for consolidating the gains of democracy in a new world order with huge infrastructural renewal.
It is not all the time that we should play politics with every single item on our menu list. Cementing bonds as a people with common identity and cultural heritage is another way to promote unity across borders. What Governor Okpebholo has been able to do in his 20 months as Governor is to douse the tension that he inherited from a tumultous and rambuctuous administration of Godwin Obaseki, who never thought there would be an end to his troubled reign.
Today, Edos in their thousands and millions are predominantly able to pursue their aspirations without the usual tempest. Getting the buy-in of Edos in the diaspora was another assured way of consolidating the gains recorded in the last 20 months.
Governor Okpebholo is not only righting the wrongs of the past, but also creating platforms for robust engagements. At home, he has been able to chart a new roadmap for practical governance by the visible impact of his investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture, security, and social development. He is a man of few words who prefers his works to speak for him.
Such a man can only be encouraged by supporting his lofty ideas to grow into opportunities for all. Surely, Okpebholo is not just rebuilding a new Edo, he’s making long lasting impact that would outlive his trajectory on this putrid plane.
