Do We Still Have Edo State, or Have We Become Okpebholo State?

Crusaderhotnews

There is a question that deserves serious attention in Edo State today: Do we still have Edo State, or are we gradually turning the state into what some might call “Okpebholo State”?

It is a question about leadership, governance, accountability and the identity of a state that existed long before its current governor took office and will continue to exist long after his tenure ends.

Edo State is not the personal property of any governor. 

It belongs to its people — the market women, civil servants, traders, farmers, students, artisans, business owners and countless ordinary citizens whose taxes, labour and sacrifices sustain its existence.

Governor Monday Okpebholo has the constitutional responsibility to lead the state, implement policies and pursue development. 

But that responsibility also comes with a fundamental obligation: to strengthen institutions, respect due process and ensure that the machinery of government serves the people rather than the interests or image of any individual.

The question, therefore, is not whether Okpebholo should exercise the authority of his office. 

The question is how that authority is exercised, how it is scrutinised and what tangible difference it makes in the lives of Edo people.

Governance must be bigger than one man

One of the greatest tests of democratic leadership is whether public institutions remain strong, independent and accountable under a sitting governor.

A state should not be defined solely by the personality of its leader, the political loyalty of its supporters or the prominence of its government announcements. It should be defined by the quality of its schools, the accessibility of healthcare, the condition of its roads, the security of its communities, the opportunities available to its young people and the confidence citizens have in public institutions.

When public debate becomes excessively centred on a governor, an important question emerges: Are institutions receiving the attention they deserve?

In February 2026, Premium Times published an investigation based on Edo State's fourth-quarter 2025 Budget Performance Report. 

The report identified approximately ₦14.15 billion in expenditure above approved budgetary provisions across the executive, legislature and judiciary, raising questions about budget discipline and legislative oversight. 

These findings warrant clear explanations, appropriate scrutiny and accountability from the relevant public authorities.

Such concerns are not proof that every aspect of government is failing. They are, however, a reminder that public spending must be transparent and that budgetary rules must mean something in practice.

The people of Edo deserve to know how their money is being spent, which projects are being delivered and whether public expenditure is producing measurable results.

Edo is not a political inheritance

There is another principle that must never be forgotten: a governor is an elected public servant, not the owner of the state.

The institutions of Edo State do not belong to the governor. 

The civil service does not exist to serve a personality. Public appointments, administrative decisions and the exercise of executive power should be guided by law, established procedures and the public interest.

On October 26, 2026, The Sun reported that Okpebholo urged permanent secretaries to uphold accountability, transparency and professionalism, warning them against acting simply because somebody claimed that “the governor said.”

That message, if consistently reflected in government practice, is important. It recognises that responsible administration requires more than obedience to authority; it requires due process, proper records, financial discipline and professional judgement.

The real test, however, is implementation. Citizens should be able to see those principles reflected in decisions across ministries, departments and agencies.

What does the ordinary Edo citizen gain?

Beyond political arguments, the most important question remains: What is changing in the lives of ordinary people?

Can a young graduate find meaningful employment? Can a trader conduct business without unnecessary obstacles? Can communities depend on safer roads and reliable public services? Can parents see improvements in public education? Can citizens question government decisions without fear?

These are the questions that should shape the public assessment of any administration.

The government has highlighted development priorities, including infrastructure, education, agriculture and security. Its official website also presents an agenda focused on revitalising the state. Those objectives deserve assessment against independently verifiable results, just as concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society deserve examination against evidence.

Neither government publicity nor opposition criticism should be accepted as a substitute for facts.

The people need measurable outcomes, reliable information and institutions that can explain their decisions.

The danger of confusing leadership with ownership

A governor's name may dominate headlines during an administration, but the state itself must remain greater than its occupant.

Political supporters are entitled to defend a government they believe is performing well. Critics are equally entitled to question its decisions. Neither position should remove the obligation to examine facts, demand accountability and protect the public interest.

The concern arises when loyalty to a leader becomes more important than the principles by which that leader should be judged.

If a policy works, it should be defended on its merits. If a decision raises legitimate questions, those questions should be answered. If a public institution makes a mistake, the appropriate remedy should be pursued without fear or favour.

That is how democratic governance develops. It is also how citizens preserve ownership of their state.

Edo State must outlive every governor

History will not judge an administration solely by the frequency of its announcements or the intensity of political arguments surrounding its leader. Its record will ultimately be measured by what it builds, what it protects, what it reforms and what it leaves behind.

Okpebholo has an opportunity to demonstrate that his administration can strengthen public institutions, uphold accountability and deliver improvements that endure beyond his tenure. The opposition, civil society, the media and the citizens of Edo also have a responsibility to scrutinise government actions fairly and constructively.

This is not a demand that Edo should reject its governor. It is a demand that the governor's authority should always remain accountable to the people from whom democratic government derives its legitimacy.

So, do we still have Edo State, or have we become Okpebholo State?

The answer should be reflected in the strength of our institutions, the freedom of our citizens to ask questions, the transparency of public spending and the quality of life enjoyed by the people.

Edo State must remain a state of its people — not a state defined by one man.

Governors come and go. Political parties rise and fall. Administrations change. But Edo State must endure, with its institutions intact, its people respected and its future determined by the collective interests of its citizens.