Edo Communities Cry Out: ESIAM Coordinator General, Comr. Aigbe Ebhodaghe Okosun, Issues Powerful Open Letter Demanding Pluralistic Governance From Governor Monday Okpebholo
Edo Communities Cry Out: ESIAM Coordinator General, Comr. Aigbe Ebhodaghe Okosun, Issues Powerful Open Letter Demanding Pluralistic Governance From Governor Monday Okpebholo
By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi – Global Egberi Media International
A State Divided by Development
In his letter titled “Appeal for a Government of Pluralism, Inclusiveness, and Collaborative Leadership,” Okosun captures the frustrations of numerous rural communities who feel increasingly sidelined in the political and developmental landscape of Edo State.
He laments that for several administrations, development has been excessively centralized in Benin City—leaving other communities in a continuous state of stagnation.
“We are suffering these pains by reason of lack of basic necessities for life… massive underdevelopment across our communities in Edo State,”he writes.
The concerns he raises are not abstract; they are urgent realities:
-
Healthcare centres that are either non-existent or non-functional
-
Primary and secondary schools with collapsing buildings
-
Overwhelming lack of motorable roads
-
Communities cut off from clean drinking water
-
Widespread poverty triggered by infrastructural abandonment
For many residents, these conditions have become a painful routine rather than an exception.
Challenging a Historical Pattern
Okosun boldly challenges the culture of centralized development, calling it outdated and detrimental to long-term progress. He notes that neighbouring states like Delta have strategically grown multiple cities, enabling balanced development and healthy economic competition.
He argues that Edo State — one of the largest by land mass — deserves the same modernization.
A Vision of What Edo Could Become
In a visionary tone, the ESIAM leader outlines developmental possibilities if growth is decentralized:
-
Three functional cities instead of one
-
Multiple airports distributed across senatorial zones
-
More than three standard stadiums
-
A commercial bridge across River Niger (Ozigono axis) to boost inter-state trade
-
Expanded local government areas
-
Equal attention to rural and semi-urban communities
He insists that Edo State must move beyond the era of putting all infrastructural eggs in one basket.
“Stop Filling the Pot That Is Already Full”
One of the most striking metaphors in the letter reads:
“Stop filling water into the pot that is almost full; start filling the pot that has no water yet.”
A symbolic indictment of the over-development of Benin City at the expense of the wider Edo populace.
A Direct Appeal to Governor Okpebholo
Comrade Okosun calls on the governor to break free from the pattern of his predecessors and adopt:
-
Pluralism
-
Inclusiveness
-
Collaborative governance
-
Inside-Out Development — beginning with neglected communities
He assures the governor that shifting focus will not only elevate Edo State but also define his legacy as a visionary leader.
Author:
Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
(PRO, ESIAM)
Global Egberi Media International
Tags:
ESIAM, Edo Development, Aigbe Ebhodaghe Okosun, Akpakomiza, Community Development, Inclusive Governance, Edo State Politics, Grassroots Development
Facebook Caption:
ESIAM fires a powerful open letter to Governor Monday Okpebholo, urging him to decentralize development and give rural communities the attention they deserve. A bold call for inclusiveness and leadership transformation. #GlobalEgberiMedia
Comments