Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
In demonstration of his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has directed members of the State Executive Council to wear the Asiwaju Cap with the symbolic eight (8) form, when coming for meetings.
He gave the warning at the swearing in/inauguration of honourable commissioners, members of commissions and boards at the crowded Festival Hall of Government House, Benin.
He threatened to walk out any commissioner, wearing traditional dresses without the famous Asiwaju Cap, made popular by President Bola Tinubu, to match.
The governor however exempted those decked in suits and ties from the order, noting that the directive was aimed at drumming up support for the second term election bid of President Tinubu.
Amidst chanting of “Asiwaju, 2027 is possible” by the audience, who huddle at the venue, he promised to engage in a massive mobilization for the president’s re-election and deliver millions of votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
He warned: “I’ll not forgive any commissioner that’s not wearing it. If you come to the Exco meeting and you are not putting on suits but dressed in traditional attire and you are not wearing the cap, I’ll send you out.”
He said that he has since resolved to be publicly wearing the cap as a show of gratitude and solidarity for the president, who did a lot for his victory in the Edo Governorship Election of last year.
Governor Okpebholo urged the new appointees to work very hard to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
A statement by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor said that the government has approved a comprehensive restructuring of the ministries to mirror the structure at the federal level and ensure the seamless alignment of the governor’s SHINE Agenda with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Tinubu.
Ikhilor reiterated that in view of this strategic positioning, the Governor Okpebholo has approved the creation of additional ministries and the revival of some defunct ones, bringing the total number of ministries in the state to twenty-eight (28).
According to him: “This restructuring aims to enhance administrative efficiency, improve coordination across critical sectors, and strengthen the capacity of government to deliver effectively on its mandate to the people of Edo State.”