Edo State is no stranger to political machinations and the occasional emergence of a technocrat with ostensibly impressive credentials. The state is reeling in the agony inflicted on its psyche by eight years of one, and another is aspiring to succeed him. This new one is an individual, a self-styled expert with a penchant for grandiose agreements and dubious deals, and has proven to be less a boon to Edo State and more a leech, sapping its resources for personal gain.
He has in his own way managed to wreak havoc on Edo State’s finances while displaying an astonishing lack of political engagement. His journey in Edo State has been marked by the drafting of numerous Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), each more spurious and costly than the last, serving as tools of financial subterfuge.
He is also an expert on agreements, written with layers of legalese but designed to obfuscate rather than clarify, ultimately costing Edo State taxpayers enormous sums. The true beneficiaries of these MOUs and agreements remain shadowy figures, friends, and cronies of his godfather, while the state’s coffers are systematically drained.
Even contracts brokered under this technocrat’s watch are outrageous and exorbitant, both in terms of their monetary value and their improbability—fantastical in their scope and ambition. However, the reality is far grimmer: these agreements are intricately designed to siphon off public funds into private pockets, leaving Edo State financially crippled.
Perhaps most galling is the fact that this successor technocrat has been part of decisions with such profound implications for the state’s future. Yet he has never shown any interest in the democratic process. He did not register to vote in any election until his own candidacy was suggested to him. This belated engagement with the political process speaks volumes about his evil motivations and priorities. His is a disturbing pattern of self-interest and opportunism that can ruin a society.
Adding insult to injury, this technocrat has used his position to enrich a bank with close ties to his boss. For eight years, this bank has collected all the revenues accruing to Edo State, yet it has conspicuously failed to open a single branch in his own Senatorial district. As chairman of the bank, his actions reveal a stark disregard for the economic development of his constituency. This failure, more than an oversight, reveals a deliberate act of negligence laced with myopia.
Even more telling is this technocrat’s detachment from his cultural roots. He does not understand or speak his mother tongue. This cultural disconnection reveals a broader disengagement from the needs and aspirations of Edo State and its people. It is a plain indicator of his disinterest in the socio-cultural fabric of the State.
Here is a man whose foray into politics was neither organic nor motivated by a desire to serve the public good. Rather, it was the result of coercion by a powerless godfather, an acclaimed serial betrayer, who imposed him. His political career, for want of a lamer label, thus, rests on a foundation of manipulation and imposition rather than democratic legitimacy.
At his core, this technocrat embodies an “only me or myself” mentality. He is driven by personal gain and self-preservation at the expense of the public interest. This personality trait has dire consequences for Edo State and makes him into a leech that will most certainly sap the state and its people’s vitality and resources. This technocrat’s legacy is therefore one of financial mismanagement, political disengagement, and cultural disconnection.
Edo State is tired of individuals who are forced into power to prioritize personal gain over public service. Edo State’s experience under the outgoing regime underscores the need for vigilant scrutiny. There is, however, joy in the hearts of many that a man with a genuine commitment to the public good is coming. That man is Senator Monday Okpebholo. Under this selfless, humanitarian activist, Edo State can hope to reclaim its fortunes and build a brighter, more equitable future.