For those who doubted Governor Monday Okpebholo’s capacity to govern Edo State efficiently and effectively – I mean those of us who questioned his ability to unite the people, enhance security, and position the state prominently in national politics during the electioneering, it is now abundantly clear that we were mistaken. We were not just mistaken, but damn wrong. Okpebholo has defied expectations, proving that he is not the weakling some of us assumed him to be. It is time to acknowledge this reality and, perhaps, even apologize.
The testimonies are piling up. The National Chairman of the APC and former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has acknowledged Okpebholo’s remarkable achievements. Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and the senator representing Edo North, has openly admitted that Okpebholo accomplished in 100 days what others, including himself, could not within the same period. Even Philip Shaibu, the former deputy governor also testified to this. These endorsements are not mere political niceties – they are admissions of undeniable progress.
Yet, if these testimonies were not enough, Okpebholo’s recent interviews on Channels Television and Television Continental (TVC) should erase any lingering doubts. Those who once viewed him as hesitant or camera-shy were in for a shock. The man who supposedly avoided the spotlight during the electioneering, commanded it with confidence, fluency, and sharp wit. He not only articulated his vision with clarity but also took well-aimed jabs at his opponents, unsettling the camp of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.