Cheers and jeers: Mixed reactions as Okpebholo begins reforms in Edo

After assuming office in less than three weeks, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpehbolo, has taken decisions that could define his administration despite criticisms from the opposition, writes ADEYINKA ADEDIPE

The flurry of activities witnessed in the first few days of Governor Monday Okpehbolo’s administration may be unprecedented in the history of Edo State as he tries to grapple with the intricacies of governance at this level, having won the September 21 governorship election as a sitting Senator.

He is also keen to sell his idea to the people who are expecting him to perform better than past administrations.

By now, the governor must be aware of the fact that governance is a complex task going by some of the decisions he had taken. But he can make his job less complex if he is able to put together the opinion of his admirers and critics alike, as this will help him gauge the mood of his people at all times and know the steps to take for the benefit of the people.
The first major decision the governor took was to freeze the state account in all the commercial banks and to suspend revenue collection, ordering state’s Commissioner of Police to arrest defaulters. He also dissolved boards of ministries and sacked political appointees, while also ordering contractors handling projects in the state to move back to site.

He also inspected the Benin/Auchi Road with a view to ensuring that work resumed on the road and also commissioned the construction of the first flyover in the state at Ramat Park, Benin City, which leads to the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Okpebholo also suspended recruitment into the Edo State Civil Service and ordered a comprehensive review of all recruitment exercises carried out by the Godwin Obaseki-led administration between May and November 2024. He also threw out the absorption of political appointees into the state civil service and ordered the exit of non-career permanent secretaries from the state civil service.
He suspended consultancy services in the state and set up a committee to recover 200 vehicles allegedly confiscated by officials of the immediate past administration of Obaseki.

On Sunday, he also restored full statutory rights to the Oba of Benin, as well as announced a 14-man committee that will probe Obaseki’s tenure.

He has also made some appointments which has received kudos and knocks alike.

The governor named Fred Itua, a journalist, as his Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ikhilor Secretary to the State Government, while Samson Osagie stepped in as Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice. He also appointed Cyril Oshiomhole, a medical doctor, as his Commissioner for Health.

He appointed Dr Emmanuel lyamu as the Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board. Lucky Enehita-Inegbenehi is the Managing Director, State Waste Management Board; CP Friday Ibadin (retd.) is the Corps Commander, Edo State Security Corps Governance; Stainless Ijeghede appointed the Managing Director, Edo State Traffic Management Agency, Lucky Eseigbe Managing Director, Edo State Public Building and Maintenance Agency, while Emmanuel Okoebor is Commissioner of Finance-designate.

The appointments have been hailed as the right ones, though the state chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party questioned the process of appointing the SUBEB boss.

The Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, defended the appointment of Cyril, who is Adams Oshiomhole son, as an informed choice, noting that the younger Oshiomhole was qualified for the job.
Defending the state government decisions, the SSG, Ikhilor, said only statutory and licensed revenue collectors were mandated to operate and collect revenue on behalf of government, especially in motor parks and other spheres of commercial activities.

He said, “The attention of Edo State Government has been drawn to the continuous collection of revenue across the state by unlicensed agents and touts who do not have the authority of government to do so. While the suspension of all non-commissioned officials in the collection of revenue remains in place, henceforth only statutory and licensed revenue collectors are mandated to operate and collect revenue on behalf of government, especially in motor parks and other spheres of commercial activities.

“The public is hereby notified to report any unlicensed agent to the police as government will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those found wanting in this regard. These miscreants, their sponsors and agents are warned not to test the iron will of this government and its determination to secure the lives and property of the good people of Edo State.

“By law, the authorised agency to collect revenue for the Edo State Government is the Edo State Revenue Services. However, sometimes they license some revenue agents. The process is open for application. We recognise the Edo State Revenue Service and anyone approved by the Revenue Service. Anyone operating outside this ambit is an illegal revenue collector and we have said that such people should be reported to the law. Governor, Senator Okpebholo, has briefed security agents because we see how this is tied to the security of the state.”

However, a former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, who is also the Publicity Secretary of the PDP caretaker committee in the state, expressed outrage and disappointment over the “sacking” of civil servants in the state.
 “This is totally condemnable and unacceptable. How can a governor begin to sack workers in the state barely 24 hours after he was sworn in? This callous and rash action of the governor is a direct assault on workers and the people of the state, and we condemn it in its entirety,” Nehikhare stated.

“It is reminiscent of the dark days of the military when after they illegally takeover power, they begin to sack and dismiss civil and public servants, using words such as “with immediate effect and automatic alacrity.
“Could this just be the beginning of the harsh and inhumane policies and decisions we are to see under the new administration of Monday Okpebholo? Is this a sad tale sign of what the government portends for the people of Edo State? If this is how the governor begins his first day in office, what hope do we have for the months ahead? How can a governor kick off his administration by throwing families into hardship?

“I think Okpebholo is only bringing home to Edo State the suffering and hardship already inflicted on the country and its people by the APC government at the centre. We should not be surprised but expect more of such harsh and insane actions to impoverish the people further,” Nehikhare added.

The PDP also condemned the state government for not adhering to laid down procedure in the appointment of the Chairperson of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

In another twist, Obaseki’s media aide, Crusoe Osagie, condemned Okpehbolo’s decision to probe his principal, describing it as laughable.

In a statement on Sunday, Crusoe said, “Our attention has been drawn to a laughable and utterly ridiculous statement by the Monday Okpebholo’s administration setting up a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to probe the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, who is globally acclaimed to have run one of the most transparent, accountable and prudent government’s in the history of Nigeria.

“This is another in the list of the barrage of meaningless probes which the governor and his directionless government is embarking on since they got into Dennis Osadebe Avenue through the back door.  From probing civil servants’ employment to probing ministries, departments, and agencies, and probing vehicles and other assets of government, among others, the governor-select has continued to show that he is bereft of ideas and lacks a clear vision for the development of the State and has therefore resorted to these charades of empty probes to buy time and distract from his incompetence and unpreparedness for office.”

Backing the governor, the state All Progressives Congress through its Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, said the probe had become necessary in the face of the uncooperative attitude of the Obaseki-led government during the transition period.
He said, “During the transition committee period, it was discovered that the former government withheld information that would have allowed them have a thorough overview of the work done by the outgone government.

“And that created a situation to look at holistically what the former government did while in office. Otherwise there would have been no need to set up this committee if the former government had given the information needed at that time.

“No government can function if the outgone government does not avail it with information required for continuity. The former government should have given information on what has been done, the ones done halfway or the ones that have not been started. They withheld information and that created a lacuna.

“The new government now has to start on a clean slate to understand what should be done and where to take off from. If we do not do this, people will ask how the government was able to begin its administration.

“So, the APC government in the state is one that will stay away from shady deals, transparent, accountable to the people and have a true knowledge of all of Edo assets and liabilities so that know how to manage them.”

A political analyst, Osa Osagie, urged the governor to surround himself with people with the capacity to deliver the promises he made to the people during the campaign, noting that he must avoid trying to please political leaders in the state.

He said, “Some of the steps the governor has taken so far are expected. He needs to know what he met on ground before taking any decision or doing anything. The freezing of the state accounts is expected while reversing some decisions made by the immediate past government towards the end of its tenure should not be frowned at.
“I have also seen the appointments he made. What I will tell the governor is that he should ensure that his appointees have the wherewithal to implement his policies.

“The governor should also be careful of praise singers and take the criticisms of the opposition to fashion out policies that will take the state to another level.”