Okpebholo courts London diaspora for Edo development, Tinubu's re-election

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo engaged with indigenes in London, urging them to champion his administration's development agenda and secure 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election. This meeting, part of broader diaspora consultations, aimed to strengthen ties and encourage participation in the state's political and economic progress.

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the engagement was designed to mobilise Edo indigenes in the diaspora as partners in the state’s economic growth through investment, knowledge transfer and strategic partnerships.

The forum, organized by Shine Beyond Borders, provided a platform for Okpebholo to showcase his administration's scorecard. He highlighted progress in infrastructure, security, healthcare, education, and economic development under the SHINE Agenda. The governor specifically mentioned projects like the Ramat Park Flyover, the concrete pavement reconstruction of the Ekpoma–Auchi highway, and security initiatives including the establishment of an Army Forward Operational Base and the recruitment of 500 Forest Guards. He also noted the approval of a new Army division for the state.

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the SHINE Agenda was delivering measurable progress and making the state more attractive to investors.

Addressing the attendees, Okpebholo described the gathering as a "family conversation" and urged those who had not visited their ancestral communities to return as stakeholders. He called for an objective assessment of his administration's performance, contrasting it with "negative narratives on social media." The governor also encouraged the diaspora to act as ambassadors for Edo State, promoting its investment potential and speaking positively about their homeland. He commended President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, for enhancing states' financial capacity for developmental projects.

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the meeting as a family conversation with Edo people in the diaspora.