From Staff Writer
The revered Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, on Thursday declared that the newly elected Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was divinely sent by the ancestors to restore the lost glory of the ancient State.
The monarch made this declaration during a visit by Governor Okpebholo to the Benin Palace to celebrate the recent tribunal ruling, which upheld the Governor’s electoral victory. In the presence of royal chiefs and dignitaries, Oba Ewuare II lauded the emergence of Okpebholo as a breath of fresh air and a much-needed turning point following what he described as a turbulent and divisive era under the previous administration.
The Oba’s words, described by many as “wisdom from the throne”, struck a deep chord among attendees. The monarch stated unequivocally that Senator Okpebholo’s administration was ordained to bring peace, progress, and the restoration of Edo’s revered heritage and pride — which he said had suffered serious decline in recent years.
Since assuming office, Governor Okpebholo has made deliberate efforts to steer Edo State away from what many critics described as the excesses of the former administration. The eight-year tenure of former Governor Godwin Obaseki was marked by allegations of political witch-hunts, administrative high-handedness, and an overreliance on consultants who were said to have hijacked governance, often sidelining Edo citizens in key state matters.
Sources close to government circles allege that these consultants, mostly from outside the state, played pivotal roles in managing sectors with little to no accountability — leading to a weakening of public institutions and erosion of public trust. Governor Okpebholo’s leadership has since moved to reverse these trends, dismantling what he reportedly described as a “consultant cartel” and returning governance to the hands of competent civil servants and technocrats.
In a move to address the decaying state of public education, Governor Okpebholo recently declared a State of Emergency on Education. The governor decried the deplorable state of infrastructure in many public schools, despite consistent multi-billion naira education budgets under the previous administration and substantial World Bank support for the much-publicised “EdoBEST” programme.
The governor stated that his administration would prioritise the rehabilitation of school infrastructure and improve teaching quality, promising to bring dignity back to public education. Many Edo citizens and educators have hailed the move as long overdue and a step in the right direction.
One of the most significant shifts under the Okpebholo administration has been the renewed synergy between government and traditional institutions. Unlike the strained relationship between the Obaseki government and the Benin Palace — particularly over the ownership of Benin artefacts, the proposed Royal Museum project, and alleged attempts to factionalise the Benin Traditional Council — the current administration has taken a reconciliatory path.
The governor has reportedly engaged closely with traditional leaders, reaffirming their importance in the governance and cultural identity of Edo State. This has brought relief to many citizens who feared that past tensions could damage the fabric of Edo society.
Governor Okpebholo has also earned praise for his mature and inclusive leadership style. Unlike his predecessor, who was accused of demolishing properties belonging to perceived political opponents, Okpebholo has pledged to govern with a sense of fairness and justice, irrespective of political affiliations, ethnicity or religion.
This tone of reconciliation and unity has resonated strongly across the state. Citizens and observers note that, for the first time in years, Edo appears to be on the path to healing and collective progress.
Despite being in office for only four months, the Okpebholo administration is already being credited with impactful initiatives and infrastructural improvements across various sectors. Road repairs, healthcare upgrades, renewed focus on rural development, and welfare schemes have begun to take root, reinforcing public perception of a governor committed to delivery and performance.
Many Edo residents have echoed the sentiment of the Benin monarch — that Senator Okpebholo’s rise to power represents both ancestral and divine intervention. They see in him a leader determined to reverse years of misgovernance and to rebuild a state long divided by political strife and administrative missteps.
Senator Monday Okpebholo’s leadership, in its early days, is being widely hailed as transformational. With the blessings of the Benin throne and the rising confidence of the people, his administration is seen as a harbinger of hope and restoration for Edo State.
As the monarch aptly stated, this is not merely about politics — it is a spiritual return to dignity, unity, and progress for the land and people of Edo.
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