Monday Okpebholo took the oath of office as Edo State governor Tuesday in a ceremony attended by the All-Progressives Congress chieftains including Vice President Kasim Shettima.
The ceremony took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City with former governor Godwin Obaseki absent. His estrange deputy Philip Shaibu was on hand to perform the hand over.
Speaking after the swearing in Okpebholo said: “Today, you have officially given me the mandate to preside over our dear State as Governor for the next four years
“We will not betray this confidence you have reposed in me and the Deputy Governor, Rt. Honourable Dennis Idahosa.”
He promised to make “the welfare of our citizens is top priority for us” and give preference to supporting small businesses.
The new governor decried the state of roads in the state and the level of insecurity which he described as “ugly”.
But he vowed to “be firm in dealing with criminals and improve the security of our land so that farming and other business activities will flourish again.
“The deplorable condition of our roads has made it difficult for people to move from one part of the State to another.”
His first appointments as commissioners include the son of former governor Adams Oshiomhole’s son Cyril Oshiomhole, as the Commissioner for Health, Dr Samson Osagie, as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
