The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has advised Edo State Governor-elect Senator Monday Okpebholo to focus on delivering his campaign promises rather than investigating his predecessor, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Ganduje’s comments came on Thursday during a thank-you visit from Okpebholo to the APC National Working Committee (NWC) following his recent election victory.
Ganduje urged Okpebholo to prioritize forward-looking governance, saying, “The ideals of democracy were upheld, the election was executed, and we are on the winning side. You should not focus on the previous administration. Look forward, don’t look back, and don’t waste your time fighting the person you took over from. There is no need. A progressive government does not have time for that.”
He encouraged Okpebholo to stay committed to his manifesto, adding, “Focus on the manifesto you painstakingly produced. Follow it to the letter with the socio-economic development of the people, build bridges, and establish good relationships with the stakeholders. Think forward and be an action governor. During the campaigns, you were an action candidate, and now you are an action governor. We believe it. We believe you will succeed and make the people of our winning state proud.”
Ganduje pledged the APC’s support to the incoming governor, stressing the importance of maintaining functional party offices across the state.
“From the ward level to the local government and state level, all party offices should be functional and physically habitable,” he said.
Highlighting the APC’s commitment to governance, Ganduje also mentioned the establishment of a progressive institute, the party’s intellectual wing.
“This institute will assist in training your personnel, especially at the local government level, and help harness the demands of the Nigerian people to form a political agenda for the government,” he explained.
Senator Okpebholo, expressing his gratitude, praised Ganduje for his dedication to the party’s success in Edo.
“It wasn’t an easy one. I know how many times the chairman called me. He would say, ‘How are you prepared? I want to be in Edo five days before the election.’ Yes, he came to the state, and everybody knew he came, and his impact was great,” he noted.
Okpebholo also thanked President Bola Tinubu for providing security in Edo during the election, saying, “There was absolute peace in Edo State. Before now, there was this kind of boast that people would die, but on election day, nobody died. For me, the victory is something we in Edo State rejoice about because a new dawn has come to the Edo people. A new dawn has risen.”
He concluded with a message of appreciation to the NWC, saying, “I want to thank the National Working Committee once more for the job well done, and I pray that God gives all of you long life and prosperity.”