Okpebholo and Idahosa
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State said he would not have won the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state if he had not chosen Dennis Idahosa, his current deputy, as his running mate.
Okpebholo, who described Idahosa as his brother, declared, “I won because I made the right choice in him.”
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the governor stated this when he received several defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Okada, the administrative headquarters of Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
At the event, Governor Okpebholo reiterated that he had enjoyed a cordial working relationship with his deputy and assured that they would continue in the same style for the good of the people.
In a statement by the chief press secretary to the deputy governor, Friday Aghedo, the governor was quoted as saying that “We are working well together. I wouldn’t have won the election if I had chosen another person as deputy”.
Senator Okpebholo restated his administration’s commitment to the people of Edo State and its indigenous roots, which he said was the reason he must do his best for the people.
According to him, “Why are we working for Edo people? We are working for Edo because we are confirmed sons of the soil. We are not foreigners. We were not borrowed from somewhere else.
“My mother is an Esan woman. My father is an Esan man. I grew up there. My deputy, the same Edo. So, if we are from here, we must work for our people.”
Highlighting his government’s continuous developmental projects as evidence of its dedication, he contrasted it with what he described as the “pattern of the immediate-past government” which waited until election periods to roll out projects.
“That is why you see us move from executing one project to another. We do not wait until election period before we roll out projects. We do not believe that we can develop in that manner,” the governor emphasised.
Perhaps for the umpteenth time, Governor Okpebholo expressed confidence in his promise to deliver 2.5 million votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, stating, “I can see it coming to reality today.”
While assuring Edo people that his administration’s performance would soon earn their appreciation, the governor boasted that “By the time we are three years old as a government, I know people will sit down and thank God. You will thank God for giving us the opportunity to serve.”
On the scheduled by-election in Ovia Federal Constituency, Governor Okpebholo told the crowd, “In the next few days, I will be coming back here for a campaign to let our people know that the choice for Ovia Federal Constituency is the right choice for the people.”
He also humorously referred to the deputy governor, as “Mr. Projects,” and introduced the House of Representatives candidate in the August 16 by-election, Omosede Igbinedion, as “madam projects”.
Received into the APC, among others, were Andrew Edobor Uzamere, the sitting member representing Ovia North Constituency II in the Edo State House of Assembly; Peter Ekhator, a former local government council chairman; Christopher Igodalo, as well as their numerous followers.
Other speakers at the event, including deputy governor Dennis Idahosa and the State APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, praised Governor Okpebholo’s performance, which they said was the primary reason many were joining the party.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Uzamere and Ekhator expressed their happiness and pledged their commitment to working with the APC political family.