By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpevbolo, is making significant efforts to honour the political support groups that contributed to his success in the gubernatorial election.
He acknowledges the political debt he owes these groups and is committed to fulfilling his promises.
To demonstrate his dedication, Sen. Okpevbolo is actively working to reward the various support groups that played a crucial role in his victory during the September 21 Edo governorship election.
Political observers have identified three key support groups as instrumental to the governor’s success.
The recent surge of appointments made by him highlights his eagerness to settle his political debts.
While some core Edo APC members may quietly oppose the governor’s decisions to include “outsiders” in his administration, they find themselves constrained by political realities and must, therefore, adapt.
It is clear which support groups Sen. Okpevbolo is indebted to.
The first group comprises mainstream Edo APC members led by Hon. Jarret Tenebe and Sen. Adams Oshiomhole.
This group has managed to secure significant political patronage.
The second group is associated with Philip Shaibu, the reinstated former deputy governor of Edo, who defected from the PDP to the APC and quickly demonstrated his loyalty by donating vehicles and financial support to the APC campaign, playing an active role in Sen. Okpevbolo’s victory along with his numerous political associates.
The last of the support groups is the Legacy group, led by Chief Dan Orbih.
Chief Orbih lost out in the Edo PDP power tussle between him and former Governor Godwin Obaseki
Sen. Okpevbolo appointed individuals from all three support groups to express his gratitude for their support during his election victory.
Fate also intervened on the side of Sen. Okpevbolo as Mr Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and now the FCT Minister, leveraged his influence to secure significant federal appointments for Chief Orbih and Hon Ogeide Ihama.
Both Chief Orbih and the FCT minister are political soulmates
Sen. Okpevbolo is said to have reportedly allocated four positions to the Legacy group led by Orbih.
So far, two of these positions have been filled.
Mr Bankole-Balogun, a member of the group was appointed as the chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Board, while Mr Oshioke Oyase Okhuemoi , chief orbih’s kinsman from Etsako Central, was appointed as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor.
Similarly, some political associates of Hon. Shaibu have utilized two of their allocated positions: one as the Director General of the Edo State Sports Commission and another for the Edo State Local Government Service Commission with hon Damian Lawani as Beneficiary.
