“Be patient, two months not enough to judge Okpebholo’s administration”, says Diaspora Edo group
A social cultural political group in Diaspora, under the umbrella of United Edo Front, has called for calm and patience with Governor Monday Okpebholo, saying two months in office was too short to evaluate the performance of his administration.
The group, during its end of year get-together in Gwarinpa, Abuja on Saturday, described criticisms of Governor Okpebholo’s administration as both premature and lacking objectively saying, “you cannot score a government less than 60 days into its tenure and those doing so lack understanding of the complexities of governance”.
In a statement endorsed by Dr. Jude Omosigho, Mrs. Julian Ebewele and Mr. John Mayaki, the group said, “there is no doubt in our minds that the governor means well for the people of Edo state. Those people you see on Television stations painting a picture of crisis in the state are being unfair to the governor and his administration.
“Governance is a long-term endeavor, and it is unrealistic to expect a new administration to address systemic issues or undertake a sweeping reforms and changes within two months. This premature judgment of those painting Edo state in bad light shows their poor sense of judgement in their assessment rather than constructive and realistic.
The group dismissed allegations of violence and political instability in the state saying, “allegations of political violence in the state are not supported by any credible reports. If anyone has evidence of threats or harassment, they are encouraged to report to the law enforcement agencies or seek redress through the courts. We are brothers and sisters in Edo state, elections have been won and lost, let us remain as one. Sweeping accusations without evidence against the governor can only mislead and incite unnecessary panic. This is highly condemnable.
“We note that the state has been most peaceful and that governance under Governor Monday Okpebholo is firmly in place. The governor is fully in charge. Governance is not about resolving the myriad of challenges in a fell swoop. We do not think that there are magicians in government”.
The group mentioned some visible progress in implementing infrastructure and development saying, “Road constructions are ongoing in Benin city and other senatorial districts. I appreciate the fact that this administration is still laying out the groundwork for sustainable development, these efforts are evidence to the governor’s commitment to fulfilling his mandate and as such, criticisms at this stage is not only unjustified, they are misguided and reflects unrealistic expectations from those who lost out.”
On claims of interference in local government councils, the Edo United Front said, “Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was very clear when he clarified this issue recently, during his meeting with state governors. While it is true that the autonomy granted to local government councils requires collaboration with the states for grassroots development, we thank the governor for fully supporting this. Local government councils operate independently and as such, allegations that the governor was interfering or orchestrating impeachments are baseless and misleading. The governor cannot do the job of the councilors in the various councils.
“You cannot rule out crisis and disagreements in a democracy. Council disputes are internal matters that can be resolved through legal and administrative channels, and not by laying the blame on the feet of the governor. If councilors decide to impeach their chairmen, how does that concern the governor?”
The statement urged the political players to be patient and support the administration of Governor Okpebholo saying, “Governor Okpebholo has shown no indication of promoting hate or vendetta. His focus remains on fostering peace and development. Governance is not an instant gratification exercise but requires patience, collaboration, and constructive engagement.
“We want to call on our people to refrain from unnecessary conjectures and unfounded accusations because they would serve no purpose apart from distracting the state from progress. This administration deserves time to settle down, with a full cabinet to deliver on its promises and chart a sustained path for our people”, it said.