Okpebholo has laid foundation for Tinubu’s re-election, says Wike
• FCT minister inaugurates 54 construction vehicles Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday said that Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has laid the foundation for the re-election of
• FCT minister inaugurates 54 construction vehicles
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday said that Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has laid the foundation for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu through the implementation of laudable projects.
He said the outcome of the weekend local elections in Abuja has also revealed the political party that is in the opposition in the country.
Wike showered praises on Okpebholo in Benin City, the state capital, where he commissioned 54 construction equipment procurred by the governor for the 18 local governments.
At the ceremony, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, described the minister as a responsible and dependable person who stood by him when he was shoved aside as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike said the purchase of the equipment was a demonstration of Okpebholo’s belief in local government autonomy.
The minister urged Nigerians to beware of emergency democrats who have restored to buying corns in the street during electioneering.
Wike urged Edo council chairmen to utilised the trucks well instead of hiring them out.
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Reiterating his support for autonomy, he said: “I don’t know why some people are afraid of autonomy for local government. Okpebholo has demonstrated that he loved autonomy of local government. He has demonstrated that development must go to the rural areas.
“Winning of elections is not by dancing. It is not by buying corn on the road. Winning of election is to show the people what you have done. You have laid the foundation for Mr. President and all those who will run elections in Edo State to be elected while most people are busy doing what they have never done before. That is why Nigerians must be careful of emergency democrats.”
Wike added: “ People that would hardly come out to buy corn when they were in office are busy deceiving people. Mr. President is busy developing the FCT. That is why as a PDP member, I am not challenging the return of Mr. President because I know what the President has done in the FCT is good for his party.
“It is better to take second than to fail. In the FCT election, APC took 45 councillorship seats, the PDP took 17. The other party never saw any vote. Now, Nigerians have known which is the ruling party and which is the opposition party.”
Turning to local government chairmen, Wike said: “When you lay your foundation well, the sky is your limit. It was my performance as chairman of local government that led to my rise in politics. If I did not do well as local government chairman, it would have been difficult.
“I want to advise local government chairmen. Make use of this opportunity. Do not say you will end here. You can only rise when you identify yourself with the people. You can only grow when you brought development. Nobody will see a good thing and will say it’s a bad thing. The governor has challenged you to replicate what he is doing at the rural level. You will not disappoint us. This is not for hiring. It is for you to grade roads. Make sure sanitation is carried out.”
He added: “The work of the governor will be reduced. The governor said the work starts immediately. He is always working. He is not a governor that lives in Abuja. It is not in Abuja that the work will be done. I have seen his humility. He has laid the foundation and cleared the hurdle for Mr. President to emerge victorious.”
Explaining the motivation for procurring the construction equipment, Okpebholo said it was a demonstration of his commitment to grassroots development in line with his ‘shine agenda.’
He said the handover of the equipment was strategic because his administration believed that development must not be concentrated at the centre.
Okpebholo said: “It must reach every village, every community, and every ward. Our local governments must have the capacity to deliver practical governance for the Edo people.
“These machines are tools of transformation. They are meant to open rural roads, improve drainage, support sanitation, and accelerate local infrastructure delivery. They are not for show. They are not for storage. They are for work.
“To our local government chairmen: this is a test of leadership and responsibility. These equipment belong to the people of Edo State. Use them transparently, maintain them properly, and deploy them efficiently for public good – not personal use.
“When local governments work, Edo State works. And when Edo works, our people prosper. The Edo people must see the impacts in roads rehabilitation, improved drainages, and faster project execution.
“This administration will continue to empower every tier of government to deliver practical governance to the Edo people.”
Oshiomhole recalled how he was abandoned by political associates after he was removed from office as party chairman
He said Wike understood the meaning of friendship, adding that he identified with people when they were in distress.
Oshiomhole said: “After I have been dismissed as national chairman of the APC, even after I led them to victory, I became lonely and abandoned by my own party. People were even afraid to visit me because it could be termed anti-party.
“ I got a call from a Nigerian who identified with those who are lonely and he invited me to Port-Harcourt to commission a flyover. Wike honoured me by giving me the highest honour of River State. He also renewed my hope.”
Lauding the Edo governor for living to expectation, Oshiomhole said: “Okpebholo is demonstrating that under his leadership, the autonomy of local government shall translate to having tractors to develop the 18 local government.”
