The requirements for good governance are as simplistic as having a populace that buys into governmental policies to make the right impact. Governance is a two-way traffic; between the leader and the followers, between promise and performance. Projects are easy to contend with if the urge is truly to serve the people. During his campaigns, Okpebholo was very practical in his examples; using Edo money to build Edo.
He identified security, health, infrastructure, natural resources and education as the key component of a state that requires urgent intervention. He lamented during his campaigns that Edo state should not be captured among the backward states, if only the government of the day took time to deploy the resources of the state in addressing the numerous developmental challenges. He is very sublime in his humility, very calm in his disposition, very bold in his decision making, very unassuming in his comportment yet unrelenting in his delivery.
Okpebholo does not come across as your verbose leader, whose stock in trade was the long arm of propaganda. Okpebholo is your typical Edo mind who’s got his eyes on the job, coordinating all the centripetal and centrifugal forces, to derive the best to move the state forward. Barely few months into his second year in office, opposition are already worn out in their vitriolic, seeing the huge development across the state.
Edo state is no doubt a construction site at the moment, but the rains during this dry season have become another challenge that may inadvertently slow down his construction drive. Yet, he’s not giving up, as he rolls up his sleeves everyday, to execute inspection of projects to the admiration of the people. He’s in a hurry to make a huge impact. He’s taking his practical governance model with the seriousness it deserves, to leave his imprint in the sands of time, while addressing potential threats in the infrastructure gaps that he inherited from his predecessor.
Okpebholo is a child of destiny whose date with history has defined his intervention in the Edo governance narrative. From one project site to another, Okpebholo preoccupies himself with resetting the Edo ugly narrative, to a more flourishing narrative that resonates with the historical antecedent of the state. His predecessor tried to disrupt the homogeneity of the people, by planting divisions and political crises across the state. All that has been corrected by a deliberate action of courageous leadership, promoted by a strong desire to address the leadership atrophy that he inherited.
From Federal government structures to state structures, Okpebholo is not looking back as he delivers on them. A typical day’s projects inspection is enough nerves cracking engagement; from the Ramat Flyover to Temboga through Upper mission to University of Benin down to the bypass. From Sapele road to Ekhehuan extension, down to Gelegele, from Siluko Road down to remote villages that were hitherto forgotten. As he’s fixing roads, he’s fixing schools, healthcare facilities and Security.
Okpebholo’s dreams to regain Edo’s lost glory are bigger than one can contemplate. From Edo North to Edo Central, the zeal is the same. Only recently, he signed agreement for the production of 10million metric tonnes of Cement in the Owan axis of the state. Asked whether this should be publicized, his response typifies a man who does not want to be praised. “When the cement plant begins, it will not be hidden. Everyone will see the plant. Can you hide such a huge industry?” That is a man who is not carried away by media blitz in promoting his huge intervention in the life of the state.
Abandoned roads are being fixed, ecologically challenged environments are being attended to, new schools are being built, old hospitals are being renovated while new ones are being built. Chairs and tables are being supplied to our Secondary and Primary schools, while teachers are being recruited to beef up the population of teachers to meet up with the growing needs of our schools.
When he was awarded by New Telegraph Newspaper a couple of weeks ago, it was just to score additional point that observers are truly watching Edo’s developmental trajectory; a trajectory that may appear unsung, but recognized for the huge impact being recorded across board.
The sweet smell of positive governance is pervading Edo state, and all lovers of democracy and positive governance must join hands with Governor Okpebholo in this journey of rebuilding Edo state. The opposition must realize that it is not just about criticising, it is about appreciating positive governance, when they see one. Edo is on course, Okpebholo is on course. The people are on course.
