GOVERNOR OKPEBHOLO DECLARES VICTORY OVER VIOLENT CULTISM IN EDO STATE, HIGHLIGHTS FIRST-YEAR ACHIEVEMENTS

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced that his administration has successfully subdued and defeated violent cultism in the state through a combination of strategic security interventions, intelligence coordination, and political will. He emphasized that under his watch, the commercialization of killing will never be tolerated in Edo.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Thursday, Governor Okpebholo described the battle against cultism as one of the most decisive and uncompromising campaigns of his administration. He stated, “We will not commercialize killing. Every life in Edo matters to me. Our fight against cultism, kidnapping, and all forms of violent crime is total and irreversible.” The governor noted that close collaboration with the police, the DSS, and other security agencies has restored peace across the state, making Edo safer, calmer, and freer than it has been in many years.

Itua quoted the governor explaining that the motivation behind the sustained offensive against violent groups was purely humanitarian, not political. “Serving Edo people is the most important thing to me. What drives us is not the next election but the next generation. We came to change the narrative and restore order after years of fear, neglect, and decay,” Okpebholo said. He highlighted significant progress in tackling insecurity and rebuilding public confidence through community collaboration and professional policing, noting that nightlife has returned to Benin and other parts of the state after coordinated efforts restored calm following multiple cult-related killings before Christmas last year.

The governor disclosed substantial investments in security operations, including providing vehicles, logistics, and operational support to law enforcement agencies. “We have made Edo safe again. People now walk freely at night. That is what good governance is about; protecting lives and giving citizens confidence in their government,” he affirmed. Itua further reported that the governor decried the state of decay inherited from the previous administration, including dilapidated schools, broken roads, and a collapsing public service, but stated that his team refused to be deterred and immediately began fixing roads, rebuilding schools, and restoring public institutions.

In less than a year, the administration has rebuilt schools across the three senatorial districts, boosting teacher morale and parent trust. “When we took over, public schools had leaking roofs and no chairs or desks. That was the EdoBEST of the last government. Today, we have reconstructed and revitalized schools, and enrollment has surged because people now believe in the system again,” Okpebholo said. On agriculture, he reaffirmed commitment to food security under the S.H.I.N.E. Agenda, pledging to open more farmlands in 2026 and align with the President’s vision to boost food supply and economic growth.

Governor Okpebholo stressed financial prudence, transparency, and accountability, vowing not to borrow recklessly. “Edo’s resources don’t belong to me. We are managing funds prudently, paying debts, and restoring fiscal discipline,” he said, pointing to the Radisson Hotel project as a major financial burden that consumed about ₦30 billion with Edo owning only 20 percent and now paying ₦380 million monthly on that debt. Itua added that the administration has paid outstanding entitlements to teachers, doctors, pensioners, and staff of the College of Education, Ekiadolor, and increased the monthly subvention for Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, from ₦41 million to ₦500 million to correct past anomalies.

The governor also revealed that 50 CNG-powered buses have been ordered for distribution across the three senatorial districts to ease transportation, stimulate commerce, and create jobs. “We are creating employment, boosting productivity, and attracting investors. Edo will soon be a model of economic renewal in Nigeria,” he said. Reflecting on his first year, Okpebholo described the achievements as just the beginning, noting, “We have subdued violent cultism, restored safety, revived schools, reawakened agriculture, and reclaimed public trust. But we’re not done yet. We are rebuilding Edo, one step at a time, until every citizen feels the peace, progress, and prosperity we promised.”

He concluded with a message of unity and hope: “We will not go back to the days of fear and bloodshed. Edo belongs to all of us. Together, we will protect it, rebuild it, and make it shine again.”