Edo State Governor, Okpebholo is “confusing” me – Says John Mayaki
My Dear Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, I come in peace, but you’re seriously confusing me. First, you told us you will emulate former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, start from where he stopped, and remain popular with the people like him. Dear Governor, don’t forget we clapped for you because we thought, “continuity, at last”. But on Saturday, when you visited Akwa-Ibom, you took a sharp U-turn and declared that you will now replicate former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s “uncommon transformation”, in Edo state.
In all honesty, Mr. Governor, there’s nothing wrong with that. Who doesn’t want “an uncommon transformation”? Or the Oshiomhole’s bulldozer and red roofs years”? But this is different from your campaign promises my governor. Times have changed just as our needs. Our current reality is not the same with yester years. I’m told you’re aware of that and I have been assured that I shouldn’t worry or get more confused.
But, why Sir? Why were you trying to confuse me earlier? At least, the budgetary provision under Oshiomhole or Akpabio aren’t the same with your 2025 budget and am sure you know the reason too. But what have I done to deserve this level of punishment and of confusion? Or between Oshiomhole and Akpabio, who exactly do you want to copy? After all, there’s nothing wrong in copying, if only you can “copy well”, in the words of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Maybe too, it is simply that you’re creating a new political specie of some sort. A possibly ‘hybrid’ of Oshiomhole and ‘genetically modified’ Akpabio. We can just call it “Oshio-kpabio-ism”. It could be some governance fusion dance you’re trying to experiment but, if that is the case, there’s no time for experimentation sir. Edo people need clarity because it’s too early in the day to start confusing us.
And, let’s not forget Lagos. Not too long ago, sometimes in September, you visited the governor, who graciously offered to share Lagos development template with you. He warned you about copying, as if he saw this confusion coming – from Oshiomhole to Sanwo-Olu and now, Akpabio’s. Hear him, “There’s nothing wrong with copying; just copy well,” he warned.
To be frank, I was thrilled upon that visit. “Yes, Ontold myself, let’s ‘Lagosify’ Edo state”, I had thought. But just now, you have decided to halt between two opinions on which one to ‘copy’. Now, which playbook Mr. Governor? Or are we to expect a three-in-one governance style? That’s also not bad. It could be your model of invention. Just let it work. I mean the Oshiomhole’s red roofs, Akpabio’s uncommon transformation magic, and Lagos’ megacity template. Except to say we are unknowingly funding a political buffet of confusion.
My Dear Governor Sir, am sorry to ask, please don’t be offended, have you jettisoned Lagos completely? Or you’re trying to blend it with Oshiomhole and Akpabio? As in, you are simply “Oshiokpabiolising”? Was this multi-state governance part of your campaign promises, or it’s simply a case of campaign after election? In fact, I support you in all of these experimentation, Mr. Governor especially because “you have the mind of the common man”, according to the “uncommon” governor, Akpabio. When a “common man” governor meets the “uncommon” ex governor, what do you get? A blend of “common uncommonness”.
Now, some persons have even gone ahead to be more confused than myself, since the news of the Akwa-Ibom visit broke. They said, “Edo State doesn’t have the financial muscle of Lagos or Akwa Ibom. And that their priorities are even not the same as ours in Edo state”. They went further to say, “What works for Lagos or Akwa Ibom might not work for Edo”. My Dear Governor Sir, Don’t just mind these confused people. They’re underrating what you can do and achieve within 100 days in office. I told them, to be honest, you will beat Lagos and Akwa-Ibom, in your 100 days. Bad belle people.
But wait o! Oga Governor. Do you want us to ignore what you told us during the campaigns? I mean that one you told us that you will always and at all times, consult Oshiomhole on every decision. Or could it be that am simply confusing myself the more? Mr. Governor Sir, hope you haven’t forgotten that you swore loyalty like bread to beans? For those of us who lived in Lagos before – bread and ‘ewa’ every morning. But now, it seems you’ve abandoned bread and beans for Akpabio’s afang soup, leaving Edo people stranded at the buffet table of unfulfilled promises. People are saying it’s too early in the day, Sir. But, I have assured them to be calm, you have the mind of the “common man”.
So, they are asking me to ask you again, Mr. Governor that you tell them what they should now be praying for. “Should we now be praying for Oshiomhole’s grassroots wisdom, Akpabio’s uncommon magic touch, or Lagos’ megacity vibes? Please, Mr. Governor, don’t make me write three sets of prayer points every night”, another one said. “And when you eventually build something such as a road, a school, or a hospital, should we say, “Thank you, Oshiomhole,” “Well done, Akpabio,” or “Eko oni baje”? We need direction, sir, especially on this emerging leadership styles”, some confused people have continued to expressed.
I think you should just ignore those confused people Mr. Governor. I already told them that you’re a man of few words and plenty action. I think that solves it. Just ignore them. They think you can’t talk or grant interview, now they have seen you talking. Bad losers them all.
But on a final note Sir, let me not forget to stress the basics: Edo people want results. We don’t care if you consult Oshiomhole, Akpabio, Sanwo-Olu, or even President Tinubu. Just give us food, light, jobs, hospitals, and roads with drainages that won’t double as swimming pools during the rainy season like the one you swarm on, near Government House when ex Governor Godwin Obaseki held sway. Fix Edo, and we’ll clap for you, no matter whose template you used. Please don’t swim on dirty rivers again. That skit was a poorly scripted one. That’s by the way though.
But please, Your Excellency, stop confusing me. Pick a lane, commit to it, and deliver. Whether it’s Oshiomhole, Akpabio, Lagos, or even Monday the Magician, just make Edo great again. And next time, kindly inform us before switching templates, people do not deserve this mental confusion into the new year. The year of our Lord!
