Governor Monday Okpebholo: Focus on the People, Not Politics

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As Edo State journeys through a new chapter of leadership, it is important that the Executive Governor, Monday Okpebholo, intensifies efforts to deliver people-oriented projects that directly impact the lives of ordinary citizens. Edo people expect purposeful governance, not distractions, and the governor must rise above political intrigues within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the criticisms from the opposition.

History reminds every occupant of Osadebe Avenue that power is transient. Governors come and go, but their legacies endure. One day, Governor Okpebholo will also leave the seat, and like his predecessors, he will face questions about his stewardship. Those questions must be answered not with political rhetoric but with visible results.

The governor’s emergence itself is a remarkable story. In the buildup to the 2024 governorship election, he was not considered a frontrunner. After the APC primaries and the crisis that trailed them, his eventual rise was unexpected, echoing the biblical phrase: “the stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” For many, his ascension was nothing short of providential.

What makes his case unique is that he did not make sweeping promises to politicians during his journey to power. Unlike many aspirants who barter pledges of appointments and contracts in exchange for support, Okpebholo’s emergence freed him from such political debts. This gives him an unusual advantage: he is less beholden to vested interests and more able to focus on the needs of Edo people.

In political culture, the difference between “Come work with me” and “I want to work with you” is significant. The first implies obligation and entitlement; the second conveys volunteerism and genuine support. Okpebholo benefitted from the latter—many came forward to say, “We want to work with you.” Those who volunteered cannot now dictate to him in the way those courted with promises often do.

Yet, the challenges remain. Critics have been quick to dismiss him as inexperienced or incapable. Some still label him a “never-do-well.” But the real judgment will come not from political chatter but from tangible evidence of progress. On November 12, 2025 his first anniversary in office the people will look back and ask: What has the governor done?

Nigerians have grown weary of promises. They demand results, roads that last, schools that function, hospitals that serve, and policies that impact daily lives. Our nation has never lacked good laws or policies; the failure has always been in their implementation. Edo people expect their governor to break this cycle.

Governor Okpebholo must therefore keep his focus sharp: people before politics, performance before promises, and legacies before loyalties. If he succeeds in doing so, history will remember him kindly, not as a product of political accident, but as a leader who defied the odds and delivered for his people.


By Dr. Bright Oniovokukor

ED, Indomitable Youths Organization

Chairman, Civil Society Observatory Group on ACJL, Edo State

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