Edo guber: Group endorses Okpebholo for synergy with FG

From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin

A socio-cultural group based in Benin City, Edo’Okpa Youth Movement (EYM), has commended the duo of Adams Oshiomhole and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo for their intervention in the abandoned Benin-Auchi-Okene highway project, which the Federal Government has promised to complete in six months’ time.

While applauding the Federal Government through the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the EYM led by Pascal Ero, at a press briefing in Benin, said the state had suffered total neglect as vehicles from the north going to the South now prefer to go through Lokoja or Okene, to avoid the deplorable Benin-Auchi-Okene expressway which passes through the state.

“Oshiomhole and Okpebholo, popularly called Akpakomiza, have just demonstrated that they can collaborate with the Federal Government to give Edo people good roads and better infrastructure.

“In this 21st century, when a governor plays politics with the lives of the people, we will also play politics with him too. We will support the APC governorship candidate so that he can work with the federal government to repair our roads and bring developments to us at home.”

Extolling the leadership qualities in the APC candidate, Ero said: “We don’t want those who will come and speak grammar for us in the government house again. We want those who will work. We want action and Akpakomiza is demonstrating action as you can see.”

Last week, during a meeting with the road contractors handling the project, Umahi disclosed that the federal government has designed a plan to complete the construction of the Benin-Lokoja Road project within six months.

In his reaction to the development, Okpebholo praised the federal government, saying that President Tinubu has rekindled the hope of the people of Edo State through the road project.

The Benin-Auchi-Okene expressway road project was awarded in 2012, but could not be completed. The road project was at the centre of the first bill co-sponsored by Oshiomhole and Okpebholo last year. Both senators have again mounted pressures on the government, claiming that the rainy season would further deteriorate the condition of the already deplorable road.