‘Lagos Will Stand With You’ – Sanwo-Olu Assures Edo Governor-Elect Okpebholo

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured Edo State Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, of his full support, emphasizing that Okpebholo will not walk alone as he prepares to assume office as the Governor of Edo State.

Sanwo-Olu made this promise on Saturday during a ‘thank you visit’ by Okpebholo to Lagos House, Marina, following the latter’s victory in the recent governorship election in Edo State.

The Lagos governor pledged to provide Okpebholo with Lagos’ developmental blueprint and necessary strategies to ensure his success in office.

“We are excited and happy that you have chosen Lagos as the starting point to seek blessings and to acknowledge the modest support we gave,” Sanwo-Olu said. “On behalf of the people and government of Lagos State, we want to congratulate you. Like you have said, your winning is for all Edo people, and everybody should join hands with you to develop Edo State.”

Sanwo-Olu assured Okpebholo that Lagos would be ready to assist by sharing its proven strategies for development. “I want to assure you that you are not the first that Lagos will be supporting in terms of the developmental template. We will make all of our agencies that we believe could speak to the needs of Edo available to you. We will make ideas that we have used to take Lagos forward, and we will give them to you. Lagos will stand with you. We will support you. We will give you all that you require of us to make the best of your time as a Governor,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu also urged the people of Edo to rally around Okpebholo and support his administration for the collective good of the state. “All your other contestants should come together and work with you so that you can develop Edo State. I believe that is the right thing to say and do. Election is over for now. So, it is for you to ensure that you get every Edo citizen who truly wants to serve and support to come out to render that kind of support because it is only when you all do that that Edo people can be better off for it,” he said.

He further expressed confidence in Okpebholo’s leadership abilities: “You have the heart to transform the state. You have the heart to touch the lives of the people. You have the heart to make life meaningful for your people, and that is what we are believing and hoping that you are going to do.”

In his remarks, Okpebholo, accompanied by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, reinstated Deputy Governor Phillip Shuaibu, and other APC chieftains, expressed his gratitude to Sanwo-Olu for his support during the Edo governorship campaign. He also sought the Lagos governor’s continued backing as he prepares to take office.

“I am here not only because I want to thank you; I also want to draw from your wealth of experience. I also want you to know that you shouldn’t leave me alone. We are brothers, and we are APC,” Okpebholo said. “We will continue to seek your (Governor Sanwo-Olu) continuous support and prayers. With this, we think we will make it big for Edo people.”

Addressing his opponents, Okpebholo extended an olive branch, urging them to join hands for the development of the state. “My message to those outside there is that there must be a winner, and I am extending my hands of fellowship to all of them to come out, and whichever ideas they have, they should come and support us so that we use the idea for us to develop Edo State. We are going to transform Edo to an enviable state. Edo is going to experience a new transformation.”

He concluded by saying, “Come November 12, we would be taking over from where Obaseki stopped, and I wish (Governor Godwin) Obaseki well for the remaining days in office.”