Okpebholo Reaffirms Commitment to Edo’s Sustainable Development

Kingsley Ohens reporting

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to delivering visible, inclusive, and sustainable development across Edo State, declaring that development remains the central driving force of his leadership.

The governor made this known during an inspection tour of key infrastructure and tourism projects currently under construction in Udomi, Esan Central Local Government Area. The inspection forms part of the administration’s broader strategy to assess progress and ensure timely delivery of priority projects across the state.

Projects inspected include a 150-bed Edo Specialist Hospital in Udomi, designed to enhance access to quality healthcare; the Udomi Town Hall, which will function as a modern event centre and revenue-generating facility; and the Udomi Holiday Resort, a flagship tourism project expected to feature a golf course, film village, hotel, and other leisure amenities.

Speaking to community stakeholders during the inspection, Governor Okpebholo emphasized that his leadership is guided by a singular vision of transforming Edo State through purposeful governance and strategic infrastructure investment.

“What is in me is to develop Edo. That is what you are seeing here,” the governor said.

He recalled his long-standing advocacy for modern infrastructure and urban renewal, noting that ideas he had championed over the years are now being implemented through deliberate government action. According to him, Edo State’s rich historical heritage should serve as a foundation for progress rather than a limitation to growth.

“During my campaign, I kept telling people: why should Edo be an ancient city? We started early as a state. What brought the Portuguese to Edo was what they heard about Edo. Edo cannot continue to be an ancient city. We must improve it and leave it better than the way we met it,” the governor stated.

Governor Okpebholo assured residents that significant infrastructural and urban transformation, particularly in Benin City, would become evident within the next two years. He further stressed that development efforts would be equitably distributed across the state’s three senatorial districts.

“In the next two years, you will see a lot of changes in Benin City. We are going to do it across board because we have three senatorial districts,” he added.

The inspection tour was conducted in the presence of top government officials and party leaders, including retired General Cecil Isegaigbe, leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo Central Senatorial District; Sylvester Aigbobor, APC State Deputy Chairman; and other senior government and party officials.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, the inspection underscores Governor Okpebholo’s hands-on leadership style and his determination to ensure that public projects align with the administration’s development agenda and the expectations of Edo citizens.

The governor’s renewed commitment, observers say, signals a decisive push toward modern infrastructure, economic diversification, and balanced development across Edo State.