Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo says he entered government to serve the people, not himself, and hopes to be remembered for his work rather than his wealth.
Speaking to editors at a media chat on Tuesday as he marked his second year in office, Okpebholo described his election as a privilege bestowed by God and the people.
“Winning an election is, to me, a privilege from God and the people who placed their trust in me. I asked for the job, and my responsibility is to do it.
“Whatever I’m doing is because I want to serve. I’m not here to play ‘fine boy’; I want to serve the people. That is my goal,” he said.
The governor said he hoped to leave a legacy similar to that of the late Ambrose Alli, a former governor of the old Bendel State.
“It would be more honourable to me if, when I leave government, I’m remembered for the things I did, not the amount of money I have,” he said.
“When I was growing up, I kept hearing about Ambrose Alli. Now that I have grown up, I still see Alli’s stickers on vehicles. Was it Alli who printed those stickers?
“It wasn’t him. I want people, many years after I’m gone, to still remember me and put my sticker somewhere.”
Okpebholo, a former senator, said his priority was to spend Edo State’s resources on issues that matter to residents.
He said his administration had constructed more than 100 roads and rebuilt markets, schools and healthcare centres over the past two years.
“We’re concentrating on access to education. That’s why we’re providing basic amenities and hiring teachers to save our education system,” he said.
He added that the state airline would be launched soon.
Some Benin residents who spoke to The Whistler said the governor had performed beyond their expectations.
“When the governor first came, there were killings every day by cultists,” said a shop owner at Oba Market. “But the governor has dealt with insecurity, and we don’t hear about killings again.”
Another resident said the Okpebholo administration was transforming the state by building flyovers, roads, schools and hospitals, particularly primary healthcare centres.
