Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday promised not to betray the confidence the people reposed in him by electing him as the governor of the state.
The governor made the promise during his inauguration as the sixth elected governor of the state.
Governor Okpebholo took his oath of office at about 1pm at the inauguration ceremony at the Ogbe stadium in Benin, the state capital.
He assured that the welfare of the citizens is the top priority of his administration’s ‘Five-point Agenda’.
He said the five-point agenda is designed for robust economic growth and improvement in the lives of the people.
The new governor listed the five-point agenda to include Security, Infrastructure and Road Development, Affordable Healthcare, Water and Food Sufficiency, and Value-Driven Education across the state.
Senator Monday Okpebholo was on Tuesday, formally sworn in as the new executive governor of Edo State, following the completion of the tenure of now former governor Godwin Obaseki
Also sworn in as deputy governor was a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Denis Idahosa, who ran together with Okpebholo during the recently concluded governorship election in the state
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo winner of the September 21 off-cycle governorship election in the state.
He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who came second with 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came third with 22,763 votes.
The ceremony was performed by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who led the Okpebholo and Idahosa on the taking of oaths of office.
He assured that the welfare of the citizens is the top priority of his administration’s ‘Five-point Agenda’.
He said the five-point agenda is designed for robust economic growth and improvement in the lives of the people.
The new governor listed the five-point agenda to include Security, Infrastructure and Road Development, Affordable Healthcare, Water and Food Sufficiency, and Value-Driven Education across the state.
With his Inauguration, Senator Okpebholo became the sixth civilian governor governor of Edo State following the creation of the state in 1991.
In his Inaugural address, Governor Okpebholo promised not to betray the confidence reposed on him and his deputy governor, adding that the people’s welfare would be the top priority of his administration.
He said: “The welfare of our citizens is top priority for us. To achieve this, we shall implement programmes, carefully outlined in my Five-point agenda, designed to grow a robust economic growth and improve the lives of our people.
“They are: Security; Infrastructure and Road Development; Affordable Healthcare; Water and Food Sufficiency, and; and Value-Driven Education across the state.
“For a long time now, our people have become victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes. To end this ugly situation, we will be firm in dealing with criminals and improve the Security of our land, so that farming and other business activities will flourish again.
“The deplorable condition of our roads has made it difficult for people to move from one part of the State to another”.
Continuing, the Governor said: “Our policy to develop Road Infrastructure is targeted at constructing roads, drainages and bridges, to ease transportation for all. We shall immediately commence work to make the roads passable again.
“We are also ready to partner with the federal government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, those in diaspora, and other stakeholders, to develop our State across all sectors.
“My administration shall support small businesses and market women with soft loans. Our teeming youthful population will not be left out. We shall support them to acquire relevant skills for self-empowerment.
“My administration shall immediately swing into action to recruit teachers and rebuild the deplorable classrooms. Tertiary education will be strengthened in many ways too, to ensure quality education
“Fellow citizens, my administration is ready to link communities that have not yet been connected to the national grid, to ensure that they have electricity.
“Our traditional institution shall be given the necessary support to play their role as custodians of our rich cultural heritage. It is in recognition of this that my administration shall support the decision of the Federal Government to uphold the Oba of Benin as the exclusive owner of the returned artefacts, that were looted away by British Colonial Forces during the Benin Massacre of 1897.
“To the Edo State House of Assembly, our people have tasked us to work together for the common good of all. My Administration is ready to work with you to strengthen institutions of governance and accelerate development.
“Recall that on 17th June 2019, 14 elected members of Edo state House of Assembly were denied inauguration into the 7th Assembly.
” It was a big blow to our democracy. My administration is setting up a panel of inquiry to investigate the remote causes of that incident, so as to avoid future occurrence.
“This is very imperative because the legislative arm of government is an essential component for the sustenance of democracy.
“Under the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the Judicial arm of government shall be strengthened to administer justice; fairly and promptly.
“The delay and refusal by the previous administration to swear in three judges recommended by the National Judicial Council is indeed regrettable. The Chief Judge will look into this and take necessary actions without delay”, Okpebholo assured.
Dignitaries at the inauguration ceremony included Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Chairman of the Nigeria’ Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, and other governors of the APC
