By Kassim Afegbua
In the last 24 hours, what Senator Monday Okpebholo displayed, has left a lot of Edo voters spellbound and in awe, appreciative of his empathetic and solicitous disposition towards his people. In one day, Senator Okpebholo visited the ancestral home of the Afegbua Royal Family to commiserate with them on the death of Prince Abdulmalik Afegbua, a chieftain of the APC, who passed on to glory on 7th July. From there he proceeded to Jattu-Uzaure to commiserate with the people of the community: some of them lost their dear ones, in last week’s fire and market accident. He visited the injured ones in hospital, paid their hospital bills, and spent moments with them; though ephemeral but very meaningful. Additionally, he handed them a purse of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) to mollify and cushion their suffering.
On his way from Jattu-Uzaure to Benin, he encountered students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma who were soliciting for support for one of their colleagues, afflicted with a kidney disease. According to them, their colleague needed Six Million Naira( N6,000,000.00) to carry out a kidney replacement surgery to save his life. Senator Okpebholo did not turn a deaf ear to them; he listened to their supplication and was compelled to act; in a visceral and compassionate response, he donated Seven Million Naira (N7,000,000.00) on the spot, to the students’ representative, with a promise that he would do more should the need arise; also, he assured the students that he would keep the boy in his prayers.
The scene immediately broke into a timorous rally. The students could not contain or curtail their joy. They were jubilant and exultant; chanting, “Akpakomiza for Governor Mr. Talk and do, we will vote for Akpakomiza.” The scene was as emotionally touching as it was enthralling. The compassion and humility, woven into the idyllic scenario was palpable. Students who were initially wearing forlorn faces of despondence, suddenly moved to the other end of the pole, with smiles, laughter and joy written all over their faces. Senator Okpebholo didn’t speak for too long, his address was simple but pithy; his admonition was seminal and made the students introspect as regards their role in the building of the state. He particularly told them that their actions and/or inactions would make them complicit in the failure of the state, if they didn’t take politics and their voting rights and privileges seriously. He assured them of his good intentions apropos his aspiration to be the governor of Edo State, and reiterated that the health of Edo state has always been in his consciousness, hence all the contributions he has made to the betterment of the state, even as a private citizen. He urged them to vote for him on 21 September 2024 and all Edolites will be better for it.
In their response, the students assured him of their unflagging support; they promised to file out in numbers on Election Day to ensure that he, Senator Monday Okpebholo is returned as governor of Edo State. Watching the scene as captured in an amateur video clip, left me touched. I couldn’t help the tears that coursed down my cheeks as I reflected on the hearty disposition of a man who is widely known as a homeboy, who is ever ready to shoulder responsibilities for the ordinary folks out there; a man so humble, so compassionate, so unassuming and so peculiar in every sense of the word. He didn’t need to speak Queen’s English to resonate with the people. He didn’t need to equivocate, obfuscate or be esoteric to win the hearts and minds of the students. He was lucid and connected. He connected with them everything else followed. After the jubilation, he continued his journey.
Two days before that encounter, he was a guest at the Paddy Emmanuel Foundation, where he donated Five Million Naira(N5,000,000.00) to 10 artisans: panel beaters, hair-dressers, mechanics, and tailors. It was a spur of the moment intervention. He was moved by the philanthropy of Mr. Paddy Emmanuel who had given start-up capital to some indigent Edo sons and daughters to beef up their trades, and so he followed suit. Senator Okpebholo was just an invitee to witness the occasion and in his good nature, his heart of giving sprung into action. This kind of empathy is what we want to see in our leaders who want to govern the state, not those who dance around, and pride themselves as good speakers of English Language at rallies, who then vanish from their responsibilities of working for the people of Edo State. The APC candidate has been widely acknowledged as a man with a heart of gold; indeed doing good always does his heart some good.
As a private citizen, he has been doing so much for his community: building boreholes, fixing schools, building roads and health centres. As 21st September approaches, Edo people should prepare in their thousands to elect this humble man, who is eminently qualified by any rubric, to lead the state: a community builder not a profit taker, fit as a fiddle, a man with energetic fervor, affability, lucidly intelligent, and blessed with piercing acuity. He is the man we need to lead Edo State. Okpebholo loves Edo people and loves Edo State. APC is the party to vote for on 21st September. SENATOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO is the man we want. THE MAN WEY SABI, WEY WE SABI. With Okpebholo, Edo state is surely going to rise again.
