
A popular author, Katrina Mayer, once said that “Integrity is making sure that the things you say and the things you do are in alignment.” This quote clearly defines His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo as a man of integrity and a promise keeper has been embarking on projects that are visible to the blind and audible to the deaf right from the very first day he was sworn into office as governor of Edo State. He hit the ground running and has consistently broken records in less than three months in office.
Since he was sworn into office on November 12, 2024, the people’s action governor has been continually celebrated by Edolites both at home and in diaspora for matching words with actions and doing everything he promised Edo people before winning the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
Governor Okpebholo during the campaign season promised to make Edo State a construction site, promised to give Edo State its first ever flyover, promised to make education a top priority, to provide affordable healthcare, security across the state and make food available and accessible to all. These and many more the governor has done and is still doing.
Examples of some projects embarked upon by the current administration include flagging off and construction of the Ramat Park Flyover, Oregbeni, Benin City, construction of Upper Ekenwan Road, construction of the Temboga-Ugbowo bypass, construction of Upper Airport-Evbordia Road, reconstruction of Upper Mission Extension, Aduwawa Junction, reconstruction of Ewa Road, construction of Uromi-Uwessan-Ebhora Road, among others.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, in a statement issued on January 23, said that His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, while inspecting the ongoing construction of the first flyover in Benin City, expressed satisfaction with the work done so far, saying that the current administration is focused on delivering tangible projects rather than signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
“We are practical people, not MoUs. You can see for yourself the progress made. Building a flyover is not something you rush into, but I am confident in the contractor’s capacity and the quality of work being delivered,” Governor Okpebholo remarked.
Governor Okpebholo has also maintained his integrity and has kept his promise in the area of education by restoring and increasing Ambrose Alli University (AAU) monthly subvention from N40m to N500m. The governor has also approved the recruitment of the first batch of 500 teachers in fulfilment of his promise to boost learning in public schools across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, disclosed that Governor Okpebholo gave the approval to recruit 500 teachers so as to ensure that the average Edo child gets the best in terms of education, even as the state drives infrastructural development.
“We are excited to let Edo people know that Senator Monday Okpebholo is a man that keeps to his words. He has given the approval for 500 teachers to be recruited into the education sector. This recruitment exercise will be in tranches and this is the first tranche of teachers to be employed,” Dr. Iyamu said.
“We are grateful to Mr. Governor for being a man of honour and his care for the average Edo child. A new dawn indeed is here, and a new Edo is risen,” he said.
In the area of security, Governor Okpebholo has restored peace to Benin City and other parts of the state. The governor has also purchased over 70 Hilux patrol vans for security agencies, promoting inter-agency collaboration and engaging local communities to combat insecurity. Let’s not also forget the setting up of Edo Security Corps which is currently recruiting and training personnel to combat crimes across the state.
Also, Governor Okpebholo has signed the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025. The new law provides for 21 years imprisonment for individuals who financially or materially sponsor cultism; 10 years imprisonment and property demolition for those who harbour cultists or allow their property to be used for cult-related activities; 21 years imprisonment for cultists involved in assault, injury, or property destruction, and death penalty for those responsible for killings in furtherance of cult activities.
Governor Okpebholo’s integrity as a promise-keeper has also been felt in the health sector where he has commenced the construction of 192 modern Primary Health Centres across the state. The governor’s suspension of market unions and associations has brought about food sufficiency and price stability in the state.
His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to upholding integrity and keeping his promise has restored transparency and accountability to all sectors of the state. This quality has also earned the governor showers of encomiums from various stakeholders and the masses across the length and breadth of the state.
Governor Okpebholo as a man of integrity and a promise keeper has demonstrated leadership with landmark projects ongoing across the 18 local government areas of the state too numerous to mention. Edo people have only to pray for more grace upon the governor to do more and take the state and its citizens and residents to the desired enviable heights.