Governor Okpebholo Defends Naming Thousands of New Aides in Edo State
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has caused quite a stir in the political scene. He recently stood up to defend his government’s plan to appoint thousands of Special Assistants. While many people are surprised by this huge number, the governor insists that it is simply “not an issue”.
A Massive Wave of Appointments
The governor links this massive wave of appointments directly to the recent election victory of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Okpebholo shared his thoughts during a large meeting in Benin City with APC members from all 18 local government areas. He explained that these appointments have a clear two-part purpose:
- Reaching the Grassroots: He wants to take governance straight to the local level so that state programs reach everyday people.
- Rewarding Loyalty: He wants to reward the loyal party members who worked hard to help the APC win the election.
According to Jarret Tenebe, the APC state chairman, the specific plan is to appoint 25 Special Assistants in each of the 192 wards across Edo State. A special party committee will handle the job of choosing the right people for these roles. (Note: 25 aides across 192 wards actually brings the total to 4,800 appointments.)
Questions About the Cost
While the party celebrates the victory and the new jobs, the sheer scale of these appointments is raising serious questions. People are worried about the heavy financial burden this will place on the state and the use of public funds.
How will the government pay for thousands of new aides? Will public resources be stretched too thin? During his speech, the governor did not share any details about the salaries, allowances, or other costs that will come with these new positions.
The Bottom Line
For now, the plan is moving forward. While the governor sees this as a way to bring government closer to the people and reward hard work, citizens are waiting to see how much this bold move will actually cost Edo State.