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Edo Guber Election: X-raying the Chances of APC’s Sen. Monday Okpebholo to Occupy Osadebe House
Ahead of the September governorship election in Edo State, the major political parties have activated their full arsenals to determine who occupies the Government House, popularly known as Osadebe House in the state capital, Benin as Gov. Godwin Obaseki's successor.
With the inauguration of their various campaign councils, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, along with the Peoples Democratic Party’s Asue Ighodalo and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata are now courting the voters in the South South State to decide their fate in the September off-cycle election.
With the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring readiness for the election, it is now in the hands of the voters to pick from among these three or others who will pilot the affairs of the state as the second and last tenure of Obaseki gradually winds down.
What is however remarkable is that Sen. Okpebholo stands out among the three leading candidates because he represents the specie of progressive leadership which Edo needs now more than ever, having fallen short of the governance expectations of the people of the state in recent times.
His philosophy for playing politics is woven around human and infrastructural development. It was this factor that pushed him to contest for the Senate in Edo Central Senatorial District, under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His giant strides in infrastructural development and human capital building amongst other public service delivery in Edo Central preciepited his overwhelmingly electoral victory on February 25th, 2023, thereby smashing the 24 years rule of PDP in Edo Central Senatorial District. This signpost what the people of the state can do on a larger scale in their choice of leader in September.
*Amicable Resolution of Primaries Fallout*
Arising from the fallout of the February primary election in which Sen. Okpebholo was declared winner and certificate of return issued to him, other candidates of the party staged a protest, alleging irregularities. Expectedly, some of them threatened a legal action against the APC, demanding that the certificate of return should instead be issued to them.
Like in every contest, there can only be one winner. This time, the pendulum swung in favour of Sen. Okpebholo a successful businessman and an administrator per excellence.
The good news however is that following series of engagements and reconciliation moves, all the contestants in the primary election have not only withdrawn their threats to sue the party and its candidate but have pledged to allow party supremacy prevail by working assiduously to ensure that APC returns to power in Edo, with Sen. Okpebholo on the driver seat.
They have also agreed to market the Okpebholo Mandate in all nooks and cranny of Edo, by serving in his campaign Council. On the saddle as the Director General of the Campaign Council is a veteran Senator, Matthew Urhoghide who enjoys a deep-rooted grassroot acceptance. It is not in doubt that this would be deployed sell an already excellent product to the people of Edo.
*Many Factors in his Favour*
One can safely say that Sen. Okpebholo is an embodiment of knowledge, experience, education, leadership, and competence which Edo needs now to move forward. Also, he is from Edo Central, a zone of the state that has not been fairly treated in the comity of the state. He is a product that will erase age-long marginalization the people of his zone have suffered and that accounts to why his popularity has continued to wax stronger by the day.
Senator Okpebholo's altruistic love and desire to change the deplorable condition of infrastructure, tackle insecurity menace, transform education, health and agric sectors in Edo State were some of the things that propelled him into taking the leap to run for the governorship race. He has a burning desire to make a difference in the annals of the historical trajectory of Edo.
Additionally, apart from the backing of his party at the very top echelon as the governing party, who is who is Edo APC has said Sen. Okpebholo is the way to go. A former governor of the state and Senator representing Edo North during the recent inauguration of the governorship campaign council said, “If it requires me (Oshiomhole) to take the role of a sweeper, I am ready to sweep Senator Monday Okpebholo into office as governor.
“Every member and supporter of the APC is a member of our campaign for genuine change under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“Titles do not matter, every member is a canvasser, every member of our party must work hard to win their units and wards, local government and state. Move from house to house because neighbour talks to neighbour and would understand.”
*A New Dawn for Edo*
Sen. Okpebholo has repeatedly assured the people of Edo that if given the mandate, he will focus on security, massive infrastructural development to advance the economic development of the state and open it up for massive foreign investments, provide affordable healthcare, water and food security, value-driven education, economic rejuvenation, while not leaving behind tourism and the creative industry.
Edo is currently ranked as one of the most under-developed states in South South and this has a lot to do with the kind of leadership the state has seen in recent times. Sen. Okpebholo is here to change the narrative and deal with the indices of backwardness dotted all over the state.
He has also unveiled campaign document which he described as a manifesto of Renewed Hope for Edo people, expected to give life to Edo Diaspora Agency which will boost the participation and engagement of Edo State indigenes resident abroad.
After a careful and thorough examination of his manifesto and preparedness to deliver on his manifesto, the people of Edo are satisfied that he is imbued with the necessary capacity, tenacity and humility to unite the state and lead it on the path of progress.
It is hoped that the people of Edo will make the right choice of voting a tested and trusted progressive to take up the mantle of leadership in the September governorship polls.
Sen. Okpebholo is coming.