Okpebholo vows lasting legacy, tours Edo projects with Idris Abdulkareem

… Gets accolade from music maestro

The Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reiterated his determination to leave the state better than he met it, as he undertook an inspection tour of ongoing and completed projects across Edo Central in the company of popular Nigerian singer, rapper and Jagajaga crooner, Eedris Turayo Abdulkareem Ajenifuja, popularly known as Eedris Abdulkareem

Speaking during the tour, the governor stressed that his administration remains firmly committed to delivering measurable progress in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education and healthcare, attributing the pace of development to improved federal allocations under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Okpebholo said the enthusiastic turnout of residents during the inspection reflected growing public confidence in his government, noting that visible development projects across the state were beginning to yield tangible results in the lives of the people.

He expressed appreciation to Abdulkareem for the visit, using the occasion to reaffirm his political confidence ahead of future electoral contests.

“When I say we will deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu, people doubt it. But today, you have seen for yourself how people are coming out because of what we are doing,” the governor said.

Highlighting key interventions, he pointed to ongoing investments in roads, schools and healthcare facilities as evidence of prudent utilisation of federal allocations, insisting that governance must be anchored on projects that directly impact citizens.

“These roads are in Edo State. We must work for Edo people. You have gone round schools, roads, hospitals. These are the things our people want to see, and that is exactly what we are doing,” he added.

Earlier, Abdulkareem explained that his visit was aimed at independently verifying reports of development in the state, expressing satisfaction with what he described as visible progress across Edo Central and other parts of the state.

“I came to see for myself if Edo is truly working, and I must say the governor has done a lot. I have gone round and seen several projects. In the next one or two years, the achievements will be even more evident,” the artiste said, while urging Edo indigenes in the diaspora to return home and witness the transformation firsthand.

Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, described the governor as a responsive and people-oriented leader, noting that the administration has consistently demonstrated a willingness to address public concerns promptly.

Afegbua added that the scale and quality of projects being executed across the state underscored the administration’s development agenda, expressing optimism that further gains would be recorded as the inspection exercise extends to Edo South.

In Edo South Senatorial District, where Prince Afegbua led him on a tour round some legacy projects executed by Governor Okpebholo, Eedris Abdulkareem scored Governor Okpebholo high on infrastructural development,
The Nigerian singer and rapper said he had just come into Edo State from Abia State, where he had spent two months shooting a musical documentary for Governor Alex Otti, noting that he would be returning to Edo State to spend three weeks touring projects, which he intends to capture and portray in a musical video to be released later.
He said, “I sang about Jagajaga about 25 years ago, but today, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is a campaigner of Jagajaga.

“I have gone round Edo State and have seen what the governor has done for Edo people. I urge you all to wait, see and listen to what my music says about the developmental stride of Edo State governor.

“I speak with my music. I am presently in Abia State for the past two months doing a music documentary for Governor Alex Otti and will be in Edo State when I am done from Abia State.

“I will be back in Edo State to spend three weeks to go round projects and get inspired. If I see bad things I will speak about it and if I see good things, my music will carry it.

“The government in Edo State is on the right track. I will not speak too much, I speak with my music, and wait for the music video about Edo development to drop.

“I want to tell Governor Monday Okpebholo thank you for listening to the voice of the people and thank you for developing the State. I am looking forward to dropping all that I have experienced in Edo State into a musical video.

The projects visited included the Sapele Road Flyover at Adesuwa Junction, road construction at NEPA Junction along Sapele Road, Ramat Park Flyover, and various road projects at Temboga, among others.