GOVERNOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO HAS CHOSEN THE HIGH ROAD OF RECONCILIATION OVER REPRISAL, MATURITY OVER MALICE, AND STATESMANSHIP OVER STRONGMAN POLITICS

 From Vendetta to Vision: The Okpebholo Leadership Difference in Edo State

By Felix Osemwengie Isere, Esq.

There comes a time in the life of a people when they must rise above the ashes of fear and division, and chart a new course toward unity, dignity, and purposeful governance. For the people of Edo State, that moment is now heralded by the refreshing leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo, whose ascendancy to the office of governor has ignited a renaissance of political tolerance, inclusiveness, and emotional intelligence in our public life.

For eight unsettling years, Edo State languished under a regime that many described as petty, vindictive, and polarizing. The administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki was regrettably characterized by a combative posture towards dissent and an alarming intolerance for opposing views. Political differences, which in any healthy democracy should birth dialogue and constructive engagement, instead became grounds for victimization, arrests, and systematic exclusion. Protesters were hounded, critical voices silenced, and political loyalty became the sole currency for survival in public service. The social fabric of our state once defined by camaraderie and shared identity was torn apart by a governance style devoid of emotional intelligence, grace, or magnanimity.

So extreme was the climate of fear that even social interactions among friends were stifled. There was a time in Edo when individuals dared not attend the birthday celebration or social gathering of a friend across the political aisle, for fear of being labeled disloyal or facing outright dismissal from public office. It was a tragic descent into the politics of suspicion and vendetta. But all that is changing.

With the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo, Edo State has begun a profound journey of political healing and democratic rebirth. In a breathtaking contrast to his predecessor, Governor Okpebholo has chosen the high road of reconciliation over reprisal, maturity over malice, and statesmanship over strongman politics. His leadership ethos is not rooted in conquest but in cooperation; not in bitterness, but in bridge-building.

Nowhere was this new spirit more evident than at the recent 70th birthday celebration of Senator Ehigie Uzamere, a gathering that saw dignitaries and stakeholders from across the political spectrum, including prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), come together in mutual respect and celebration. Such a display of unity, unthinkable during the Obaseki era, is now becoming possible under an administration that understands that true power lies not in punishing opposition but in rallying all hands for the collective good.

In yet another act of magnanimity, Governor Okpebholo has retained key technocrats and civil servants from the past administration, including the Head of Service and the Accountant General. Rather than view them through a partisan lens, he has chosen to harness their expertise and institutional memory in the service of the people. This is not only a masterstroke of political maturity;it is a reminder that governance is a sacred trust, not a battlefield for personal grudges.

Indeed, Governor Okpebholo has made it clear that the era of politics as war is over. His is a government of inclusion, where competence trumps partisanship, and where everyone regardless of their past affiliations is invited to be a part of Edo’s forward march. Under his watch, political opponents are no longer branded enemies of the state but are treated as fellow citizens with a stake in the destiny of our land.

The contrast between the two administrations could not be more profound. Where Obaseki’s years cast a shadow of fear and division, Okpebholo’s leadership is beaming the light of unity and hope. Where relationships were once severed by political persecution, they are now being mended by empathy and shared purpose. Edo is beginning to breathe again unshackled from the fear of reprisal, and awakened to the promise of a government that listens, unites, and uplifts.

As we journey forward under this new dispensation, it is clear that Senator Monday Okpebholo is not just governing Edo State he is transforming it. Through humility, inclusivity, and a rare sense of emotional intelligence, he is restoring the soul of our politics and the pride of our people. In him, Edo has found not merely a leader, but a unifier, a healer, and a visionary whose leadership is defined not by vendetta, but by vision.

*Felix Osemwengie Isere*, is a lawyer and the special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Oil and Gas.