As Nigerians decry high cost of governance, Gov. Okpebholo appoints 4,800 SAs to strengthen APC at grassroots in Edo

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved 4,800 special assistant positions as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and extend government presence across the state’s 192 wards.

Okpebholo announced the approval on Monday during a meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the 18 local government areas at the Government House in Benin City.

The governor said the initiative was aimed at taking government programmes, opportunities and development closer to the people at the grassroots.

“So we are taking the governance to the grassroots so that whatever is from the top will also go down to the bottom,” Okpebholo said.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and acknowledged the contribution of party members to his electoral victory.

“I want to say good morning to everybody and tell you that I love you all. I want to let you know that the party is our party. We don’t have any other party than APC,” he said.

“Approving 4,800 SAs is not an issue at all because we all work for this victory. The victory does not belong to Okpebholo alone,” the governor added.

Speaking at the meeting, Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, explained that the 4,800 positions translate to 25 special assistants for each of the 192 wards in the state.

Tenebe said the meeting was organised to brief ward leaders on the criteria and guidelines for selecting beneficiaries.

“In his magnanimity, the governor has decided to approve 25 SAs in each of the wards in 192 wards across the state. And that is the reason why we decided to invite ward chairmen and members to this meeting so we can tell you the criteria to select these people that will benefit from this approval,” he said.

The APC State Working Committee has constituted a committee to engage with the various wards and ensure compliance with the approved guidelines.

The committee is expected to compile the names of qualified nominees and submit them to the party headquarters in Benin City.

Tenebe commended the governor for what he described as efforts to reposition the APC in Edo, saying the party had become more active and stable under the current administration.

He also disclosed plans for the party to receive a vehicle for its activities and acknowledged the administration’s support for APC candidates during the last local government elections.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, members of the APC State Working Committee, ward chairmen and other party representatives from across the state.

The development is expected to further strengthen the relationship between the Edo State Government and the APC structure at the ward and local government levels.

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