The people of Edo State are in joyous mood as the people’s action governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, marks his first 100 days in office.
Celebrations have greeted the state, from Benin City, the state capital in Edo South, to Ekpoma in Edo Central, Auchi in Edo North and every other parts of the state, following the unprecedented wave of development being witnessed under the leadership of Governor Okpebholo in the last 100 days of his administration.
Traditional institutions, religious bodies, the academia, market women, artisans and other professional bodies across the state have all put on their dancing shoes, attires and regalias to celebrate the peace and harmony currently being witnessed in the state, as well as the people-centred developmental strides of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The governor’s reconstruction and renovation of over 100 primary and secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state has been applauded by all stakeholders as a game changer for education in Edo State. Also, the state-owned tertiary institution, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), has witnessed a rejuvenation following the governor’s increased monthly subvention from N41m to N500m.
Governor Okpebholo, whom Edolites have praised for matching words with actions and being a promise keeper, has continued to break records in his first 100 days in office. The governor has also vigorously implemented his five-point agenda of Security, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Food Sufficiency and Education right from the very first day he took over the helm of affairs at Dennis Osadebey Avenue.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, in an article titled “Gov Okpebholo’s First 100 Days: A Masterclass in Leadership and Governance”, gave an in-depth insight on some of the achievements of Governor Okpebholo in his first 100 days in office.
Itua highlighted the government policies and successes thus far in areas of security, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, roads construction, education, employment, waste management, attracting of both domestic and foreign direct investments, restoring the Oba of Benin statutory rights, among others.
OKPEBHOLO’S 100 DAYS AT A GLANCE
*Ongoing construction of the Ramat Park Flyover
*Rehabilitation of federal roads
*Ekpoma-Uromi-Ubiaja Road
*Uromi-Onewa-Udomi-Ibhiolulu Afudo-idumoza Road
*Several urban roads in Benin City
*Construction and rehabilitation of 100 schools
*Conversion of casual sweepers to full-time civil servants
*Provision of interest-free loans to 5,000 market women, farmers, and artisans
*Engagement of 38 First Class graduates into the public service
*Procurement of 75 brand-new Toyota Hilux vehicles
*Procurement of 1,000 motorcycles
*Reconstitution of the Edo State Security Corps and recovery of over 5,000 illegal firearms
*Procurement of 100 brand new Hiace buses to revive the moribund Edo Line
*Recruitment of over 500 Teachers
*Passage of a new Cultism Prohibition Law, effectively curbing deadly cult activities
*Constituting State Executive Council within three months
*Re-engagement of unjustly disengaged staff of Ambrose Alli University
*Increase in AAU subvention from N40 million to N500 million
*Banning exploitative market unions that arbitrarily fixed food prices
*Procurement of modern waste management equipment, including payloaders, trucks, and compressors
*Signing an agreement with the NNPC for a 5,300 million Condensate Refinery and a $500 million Hydropower Plant at Ikpoba and Ojirami Dam in Akoko-Edo
*The completion of the Oredo Primary Healthcare Centre
*Procurement of modem ultrasound machines for all 18 local government areas
*Installation of air conditioning units and transformers of the Edo Specialist Hospital
*Onboarding of 300 vulnerable persons into the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme
*Digitalization of health insurance data and establishment of a customer support policy
*Securing 25 hectares of land and a Certificate of Occupancy for the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre
Governor Okpebholo’s leadership and governance approach that has brought peace, joy and rejoicing to the people of Edo State resonates with a scripture in the book of Proverbs, which says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.”
Governor Okpebholo mantra of “A New Edo is Risen” has seen him in his first 100 days in office successfully spread the renewed hope of President Bola Tinubu to the people of Edo State, which has seen the state’s connection to the government at the centre yielding positive results in the lives of Edo people and the state at large.
