Okpebholo’s retreat for political appointees to close gap in governance –Esekhaigbe

2026-02-09 - 04:28

By Ozioruva Aliu BENIN CITY – THE recently concluded retreat for some political appointees by Governor Monday Okpebholo held in Udomi, Esan Central Local Government Area has been described as an initiative designed to close critical gaps in governance and strengthen service delivery across the state. Speaking to journalists on the initiative, a resource person and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd) explained that Governor Okpebholo conceived the programme to improve communication strategy and clearly define working relationships among permanent secretaries, commissioners and heads of departments and agencies. According to him, effective governance requires a clear delineation of roles to ensure that every official is fully conversant with his or her responsibilities. Esekhaigbe said the retreat aligned with the governor’s SHINE agenda which is an acronym for Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural resources and Education, adding that the engagement helped to address governance gaps and block institutional lacunae. He said carefully selected resource persons delivered sessions on key areas of governance, including Dr. Ezekiel Gomos, a former Secretary to the State Government who shared practical insights on relationships between commissioners, special advisers and permanent secretaries for effective service delivery. He added that Dr. Otunba Showumi, an educationist, and other experts also spoke on education, policy formulation and administration. Esekhaigbe said his own presentation focused on work-life balance, stressing that productivity in public service depends on the ability of officials to balance work with family and personal commitments. He said, “You cannot work all the time and abandon family life. For you to be productive, you need to understand when to work and when to slow down so that productivity remains constant,” On the choice of Udomi as the retreat location, he described it as “a deliberate and symbolic decision by the governor to inspire communities and promote inclusiveness. “The exercise showed that hard work can produce individuals who aspire to greatness and return to contribute to their communities” adding that participants from the state capital have also gained a better understanding of Edo State’s three senatorial zones. He expressed confidence that similar retreats would be held in Edo North to further strengthen unity and governance cohesion. Other speakers at the retreat who echoed similar views include a member of the Edo State Audit Commission, Hajia Maimunah Momodu, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, among others, who emphasised the need for synergy, clear role definition and policy coherence for effective governance in Edo State.