BY KASSIM AFEGBUA
Governor Okpebholo comes across as an uncommon personality doing uncommon things with less talk, but greater reach. Those who once wrote unpalatable stories about him and dismissed him with benign remarks have since eaten their words. Today, many of them have become enthusiastic promoters of this easy-going Governor who remains focused on his objectives.
They insulted his intellect, mocked his calm demeanour, misunderstood his candour, and underestimated his political reach. In the end, Governor Okpebholo defeated his opponents handsomely. Some of his critics have even turned into unsolicited publicists, now singing his praises and showering him with superlatives as he transforms Edo State into a massive construction site.
From roads and education to health, sanitation, security, and job creation, Okpebholo has proven to be a hardworking leader. He is driven by the desire not to disappoint the people of Edo, who have placed their collective trust in him. His popularity has soared not just because of his title, but because of the visible impact he is making in the lives of the people.
The PDP, lame and decrepit under Godwin Obaseki, continues to nurse its wounds. Lamenting both their electoral and tribunal defeats, they persist in delusion. Their candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is being misled to believe he can still secure what he failed to win at the polls—through the back door.
In a desperate bid to remain relevant, the PDP has assembled a handful of its idle loyalists into a so-called response team, feeding the public propaganda under the slogan “Joy is coming.” But Edo people are already experiencing joy under Okpebholo’s administration, not waiting for a distant promise.
The PDP’s statements have become incoherent and riddled with contradictions, seeking to resuscitate a conversation that has long been dead. The APC’s tribunal victory only reaffirmed the resounding mandate Governor Okpebholo received from the discerning people of Edo.
So far, Okpebholo’s performance has been superb. His rapport with the people is rich, his listening ears reassuring, and his compassion for the common man deeply rooted. His governance style is grounded in humility and purpose.
Yet the PDP’s propaganda machine continues its lamentation, grieving not just their electoral loss, but the legacy of misrule under Obaseki. Obaseki’s divisive and quarrelsome nature sowed discord and factionalism within the party. He denied Assembly members their right to inauguration, impeached his deputy, and imposed a Labour Party member to fill the gap, even against a court order.
These acts of political impunity and the arbitrary choice of Asue Ighodalo as flag bearer—without due process—only deepened the PDP’s crisis. Obaseki’s reign was marred by intolerance and disunity, and Ighodalo became a willing participant in that theatre of political absurdity.
As Chairman of the Alaghodaro Summit and a key part of the Obaseki administration, Ighodalo ignored the signs of public discontent. Seduced by the allure of power, he failed to study the political terrain and was blindsided by the backlash.
In contrast, the APC presented Okpebholo, then a sitting senator representing Edo Central. Despite a wave of negative publicity, his humility and calm disposition offered voters a refreshing alternative to Obaseki’s authoritarianism. Many saw Ighodalo as merely an extension of Obaseki—two sides of the same coin, even in the name: obASUEki.
Okpebholo, fondly called Akpakomiza, became the antidote to Obaseki’s political suffocation. Criss-crossing the state with a message of love and humility, he won hearts. After the election, former critics quickly changed tune, turning into his unsolicited advocates. Their hypocritical rhetoric now grows daily like an iceberg, cold and massive.
Following the tribunal’s judgement, Ighodalo appeared deflated, yet tried to maintain a composed facade. But his defeated expression mirrored the loss he had just endured. He longed for a victory he failed to earn at the polls, but Edo voters had already made their choice—Okpebholo, wholly and decisively.
Governor Okpebholo has become the PDP’s nightmare. In just a short period, he has embarked on projects that PDP failed to deliver in eight years. From flyovers and school renovations to job creation and road construction, he is rewriting the state’s story—one previously tainted by Obaseki’s draconian governance.
With the right energy and tone now echoing through the state, it is only fitting to pray for God’s continued guidance and protection for Okpebholo. He stands poised to usher in an era of positive change, keeping Edo in the spotlight for all the right reasons. The moment has arrived—and Governor Okpebholo fits it perfectly.
