The winners of the Edo state governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, have been sworn in as the governor and the deputy governor of Edo state respectively on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital, two months after their declaration as winners of the September 21 off-cycle governorship election in Edo State by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Senator Okpebholo and his deputy defeated the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata, during the poll.

Okpebholo and Idahosa were sworn in after taking the oath of office administered by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to formally usher them to succeed Godwin Obaseki’s administration, which has been at the state’s helm of affairs for the past eight years.

Dignitaries who attended the inauguration included the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomole, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, Babajide Sanw0-Olu, the Lagos state governor, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; and the chairman of the governors’ forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and Philip Shaibu, Edo’s reinstated former deputy governor.

The former governor, Godwin Obaseki, was absent at the ceremony. Before the event, there was an exchange of words between the camp of the immediate past governor and the newly inaugurated governor, in which the latter claimed he was not invited to the ceremony where he should be handing over to his successor. Responding, the Okpebholo camp accused the immediate governor of frustrating the peaceful transition of power to the coming administration but did not confirm that an invitation was extended to the former governor.

In his inaugural address, Okpeboholo presented a five-point agenda. Namely Security; Road and Infrastructure Development; Affordable Healthcare; Water and Food Sufficiency; and Value-Driven Education throughout the state.

He further promised to support small-scale businesses, as he intended to prioritise the welfare of the people of the state. He also assured the state of implementing the principle of power.

“The welfare of our citizens is a top priority for us. To achieve this, we shall implement programmes, carefully outlined in my Five-point agenda, designed to grow robust economic growth and improve the lives of our people.

“They are Security; Infrastructure and Road Development; Affordable Healthcare; Water and Food Sufficiency, and Value-Driven Education across the state.

“For a long time now, our people have become victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes. To end this ugly situation, we will be firm in dealing with criminals and improve the security of our land, so that farming and other business activities will flourish again.

“The deplorable condition of our roads has made it difficult for people to move from one part of the State to another. Our policy to develop Road Infrastructure is targeted at constructing roads, drainages, and bridges, to ease transportation for all. We shall immediately commence work to make the roads passable again.

“We are also ready to partner with the federal government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, those in the diaspora, and other stakeholders, to develop our State across all sectors.

“My administration shall support small businesses and market women with soft loans. Our teeming youthful population will not be left out. We shall support them in acquiring relevant skills for self-empowerment.

“My administration shall immediately swing into action to recruit teachers and rebuild the deplorable classrooms. Tertiary education will be strengthened in many ways too, to ensure quality education”.

He also added: “Fellow citizens, my administration is ready to link communities that have not yet been connected to the national grid, to ensure that they have electricity.

“Our traditional institution shall be given the necessary support to play their role as custodians of our rich cultural heritage. It is in recognition of this that my administration shall support the decision of the Federal Government to uphold the Oba of Benin as the exclusive owner of the returned artifacts, that were looted away by British Colonial Forces during the Benin Massacre of 1897.

“To the Edo State House of Assembly, our people have tasked us to work together for the common good of all. My Administration is ready to work with you to strengthen institutions of governance and accelerate development.

“Recall that on 17th June 2019, 14 elected members of the Edo state House of Assembly were denied inauguration into the 7th Assembly.

“It was a big blow to our democracy. My administration is setting up a panel of inquiry to investigate the remote causes of that incident, to avoid future occurrence.

“This is very imperative because the legislative arm of government is an essential component for the sustenance of democracy.

“Under the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the Judicial arm of government shall be strengthened to administer justice; fairly and promptly.

“The delay and refusal by the previous administration to swear in three judges recommended by the National Judicial Council is indeed regrettable. The Chief Judge will look into this and take necessary actions without delay,” Okpebholo assured.