Celebrated Nigerian singer and rapper, Eedris Turayo Abdulkareem Ajenifuja, popularly known as Eedris Abdulkareem, on Sunday acknowledged that Edo State under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s watch is truly working, noting that the administration has done a lot.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that Abdulkareem, whose wave-making 2004 album, ‘Jaga Jaga’ criticised corruption and poor governance in Nigeria was banned from radio by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, returned this verdict after joining the governor on inspection tour of ongoing and completed road projects in Edo Central senatorial district.
Giving his impression of what he saw, Abdulkareem said, “I came to see for myself if Edo is truly working, and I must say the governor has done a lot. I have gone round and seen several projects. In the next one or two years, the achievements will be even more evident”.
The controversial artiste also encouraged Edo indigenes, particularly those in the Diaspora, to return home and witness the developments firsthand.
Speaking after the inspection, Governor Okpebholo vowed to leave Edo better than he met it.
The governor said his administration remained focused on delivering tangible development in education and healthcare infrastructure driven by increased federal allocations under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted that the growing support from residents, evident in their turnout during the tour, was a direct result of visible projects being executed across the state, stressing that governance must translate into real impact on the lives of the people.
Okpebholo said, “Idris, thank you for coming to Edo State. When I say we will deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu, people doubt it. But today, you have seen for yourself how people are coming out because of what we are doing,”
He said the state government was making effective use of federal allocations to deliver critical infrastructure, including roads, schools, and healthcare facilities, noting that such projects were essential to improving the quality of life for Edo residents.
“These roads are in Edo State. We must work for Edo people. You have gone round schools, roads, hospitals. These are the things our people want to see, and that is exactly what we are doing,” he added.
Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, described the governor as a people-oriented leader with a listening ear, highlighting instances of swift government response to public concerns.
He noted that the scale and quality of ongoing projects across the state demonstrated the administration’s commitment to development, adding that more progress would be recorded as the inspection moved to Edo Sout