From Jungle Justice to National Stability: Okpebholo Shows the Leadership Obaseki Never Did

From Jungle Justice to National Stability: Okpebholo Shows the Leadership Obaseki Never Did

*REWRITING HISTORY WON’T WORK: Monday Okpebholo is Fixing a Broken System

By Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah

In a desperate bid to regain lost relevance, the opposition in Edo State has begun spinning a web of propaganda — hoping that noise can undo the truth. Their narrative? That Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration is ineffective, out of touch, and falling short in addressing security concerns.

But facts, as they say, are sacred.

Let us take a brief trip down memory lane.

On the 3rd of February 2021, a wave of anguish swept through Uromi, the heart of Esanland. Hundreds of women, clad in their wrappers and armed with nothing but their voices, poured into the streets to protest the unchecked presence of herdsmen in their communities. Their message was raw and painful — they were tired of being raped, losing loved ones, and fleeing from their farmlands. They cried out, not for politics, but for survival.

Ten days later, on the 13th of February 2021, another national daily captured their agony. The headlines were damning: “We’ve stopped farming for fear of being raped, killed by herdsmen – Edo women.” These were not isolated complaints. They were symptoms of a collapsed security framework, an indictment on a government that had abdicated its most basic responsibility — the protection of its citizens.

That was the legacy of the last administration.

Fast forward to today, and the landscape is changing — slowly but surely. Governor Monday Okpebholo may not be one for loud speeches or empty promises, but his brand of governance is steeped in action. From restoring security collaborations across volatile zones to investing in rural infrastructure and economic revitalization, this administration is rebuilding from the rubble.

And just recently, in a bold display of leadership, Governor Okpebholo traveled to Kano to meet with the northern victims of the Uromi killings. His goal? To appeal for peace and prevent reprisal attacks that could spiral into a national crisis. These were innocent citizens, victims of jungle justice — and the governor’s response was one of compassion, wisdom, and responsibility.

The truth is, they don’t want peace. They want chaos. Because only in confusion can they attempt to regain relevance. But governance is not a game of bitterness; it is about foresight, maturity, and responsibility — qualities Monday Okpebholo continues to demonstrate.

To those spreading falsehoods: governance is not theatre. It is not performed on social media or screamed from podiums. Governance is felt — in safer roads, in revived schools, in empowered farmers, and in the hope slowly returning to the people of Edo Central and beyond.

The Monday Okpebholo administration represents a new era — one of truth, responsibility, and people-focused leadership. And no amount of propaganda can reverse that.

Let us not be swayed by those who ruined the system and now seek to distort history. The facts are there. The records are clear. The people remember.

And they deserve better.

Bush Radio Academy, inspired by Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, is a grassroots-driven institution focused on empowering individuals through storytelling, citizen journalism, and innovative communication tools to amplify overlooked voices.