THE INAUGURATION SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF EDO STATE, ON THE 12TH NOVEMBER, 2024
Vice President Shettima and governors during Senator Monday Okpebholo’s inauguration
BEING THE INAUGURATION SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF EDO STATE, ON THE 12TH NOVEMBER, 2024, AT THE SAMUEL OGBEMUDIA STADIUM, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.
Your Excellency, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)
Your Excellency, the Vice President;
Dr. Kashim Ibrahim Shettima (GCON)
Your Excellency, the National Chairman of our great party, the APC; Dr. Abdullahi Ghaduje.
Your Excellencies; the Progressive Governors here present
Your Excellency; the Deputy Governor of Edo State
Honourable Speaker; Edo State House of Assembly
Your lordship; the Chief Judge of Edo state
Your Excellencies; former Governors of Edo state
Members of the National Assembly
Members of Edo State House of Assembly
Chairman of our great party in Edo state
Royal fathers
Gentlemen of the press
Ladies and Gentlemen!
My dear people of Edo state,
Let me start by thanking God Almighty for His grace and incredible blessings. Democracy has triumphed again in our dear State.
For me, this is a humbling moment; made possible by you all.
2) Again, I want to use this opportunity to thank you for your peaceful conduct during the 21st September, 2024 Governorship Election.
3) Today, you have officially given me the mandate to preside over our dear State as Governor for the next four years.
4) We will not betray this confidence you have reposed in me and the Deputy Governor, Rt. Honourable Dennis Idahosa.
5) 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.
6) They are:
– Security
– Infrastructure and Road Development
– Affordable Healthcare
– Water and Food Sufficiency, and
– Value-Driven Education across the state.
7) 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.
8) The deplorable condition of our roads has made it difficult for people to move from one part of the State to another.
9) 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.
10) 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.
11) My administration shall support small businesses and market women with soft loans.
12) Our teeming youthful population will not be left out. We shall support them to acquire relevant skills for self-empowerment.
13) 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.
14) 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.
15) 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.
16) 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.
17) 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.
18) Under the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the Judicial arm of government shall be strengthened to administer justice; fairly and promptly.
19) 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.
20) I want to thank members of the Edo Civil Service for their invaluable contributions to the development of our State. Your welfare shall be topmost in my agenda as meaningful reforms shall be initiated to ensure innovation, transparency and zero-tolerance for corruption in public service.
21) I recognize the enormous task ahead; but with a firm resolve and God’s guidance, we shall prevail.
22) I thank you once again for the privilege and opportunity to serve you as Governor for the next four years.
Long live Edo state!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
God bless you all.
Senator Monday Okpebholo
Executive Governor of Edo State
