By Chesa Chesa
A cross section of Edo indigenes in Abuja has advised the state’s governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, to put in place a cabinet that will drive his campaign promises and deliver his manifesto to the people.
The indigenes who spoke on Sunday in Abuja, said the governor-elect could not afford to have it wrong as expectations were high on him, with Jude Oki declaring that “after all said and done, the Edo governorship election has come and gone, and a winner in Sen. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged”.
He advised that as he prepares to take over the mantle of leadership of Edo, it was important for Okpebholo to surround himself with a cabinet of people who could help deliver on his promises to the people of the state.
“And there is no denial of the unequivocal fact that beyond optical hoodwinkers, Oyakhilome Bello, the APC United State National Youth Leader has shown that he has the capacity to make a meaningful impact in the upcoming administration,” he said.
He added that as a man with the magic wand to turn things around, Okpebholo as governor, would need Bello in delivering democratic dividends to the people of Edo.
He described Bello as an asset, a result-driven person, passionate about working and enthroning an egalitarian society, saying his kind was rare in Nigeria’s political trajectory of many decades.
Another indigene, Fredrick Izobo, explained that leadership was not just about having great ideas, but the ability to deliver results in the face of adversity and knowing how to achieve set objectives.
He said Bello had shown himself as an Edo true son whose personality and simplicity is unequalled and unparalleled, pointing out that “with his Oyakhilome Bello Foundation (OBF) which has helped many youths across the federation in human capital development, he has shown himself as a man who never waited for the government before making visible impacts in the lives of the people and the society generally. He believes life is good when everybody is helped and blessed”.
He recalled that only recently, the OBF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) to train youths in sustainable renewable energy development.
“This is especially as the attention of the world is shifting towards alternative energy sources away from carbon and fossil fuels. Bello proved his mettle as a leader with a distinct character when he led delegates from his United States base to Nigeria to canvass support for Okpebholo and Idahosa ahead of the election.
“He was the first APC diaspora member to have led a delegation in August to meet with the party’s leadership at the national secretariat,” Izobo said.
Gift Osaratin in her remarks, noted that Bello’s impactful support during the recently concluded Edo governorship poll through grassroots mobilisation, house-to-house campaign initiative and provision of logistics before, during and after the entire exercise had put him forward as sine qua non to the party’s success in the state.
