Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s economy will become as strong as those of the United States and the United Kingdom when President Bola Tinubu completes his economic reforms.
Drivetvnews gathered that Okpebholo made the remarks in a video circulating on social media while addressing supporters. He defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, describing the decision as a courageous step that previous administrations had been unable to take.
According to the governor, successive administrations struggled to remove the subsidy because of the political consequences associated with the policy. He argued that Tinubu’s decision was necessary to reform the economy and that the country would eventually recover from the challenges arising from the changes.
Okpebholo maintained that the president’s reforms were progressing and said the administration was working to address economic challenges. He expressed confidence that Nigeria would eventually experience stronger economic growth.
The Edo governor also cited increased federal allocations to states as an indication of changes under Tinubu’s administration. He recalled a conversation with former Edo State Governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, about the allocations states received during his tenure compared with current figures.
Okpebholo further pointed to infrastructure development in Benin City, particularly the construction of flyovers, as evidence of ongoing changes in Edo State. He said the projects were contributing to the city’s transformation into a more modern urban centre.
Speaking ahead of the next presidential election, scheduled for January 16 according to his remarks, Okpebholo urged his supporters to mobilise votes for Tinubu.
He also reminded them of his pledge to secure 2.5 million votes for the president and repeatedly asked whether they were prepared to deliver on the target.
