Benin City, Edo State – Governor Monday Okpebholo has issued a unique and politically symbolic mandate to his newly sworn-in cabinet members, requiring them to consistently wear the ‘Asiwaju mandate cap’ as a visible demonstration of support for President Bola Tinubu. The Governor warned that any defaulting commissioners would face immediate sanction.
The directive was made public on Tuesday in Benin City during the swearing-in ceremony for commissioners and members of various boards and agencies. Governor Okpebholo emphasized that the mandate was non-negotiable, specifically stating: “I will not forgive any commissioner who is not wearing this cap. In our exco meetings, if you are not wearing a suit and you are coming to the meeting without this Asiwaju cap, you will go back.”
The Governor credited the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) recent governorship election victory in the state directly to the support received from President Tinubu, stating, “This could not have happened if we did not have a responsible president… But today we say thank you.”
Shifting focus from political symbolism to governance, Governor Okpebholo gave the newly inaugurated team a stern charge against self-enrichment, confirming his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption.
The Governor stressed that the appointments were not based on reward or patronage but on the commitment to uplift the state. “This administration came into office on the promise of practical governance, to touch the lives of our people directly. Our focus is not on propaganda, but on service delivery and tangible results that can be felt in every community across our state,” he asserted.
He issued a pointed warning to the new commissioners: “I want to warn that your appointment is not for personal enrichment. You are not here for money-making, but for service, for sacrifice, and for a better life for Edo people.” He concluded by demanding that their success be measured by their impact in providing improved services and opportunities to the people of Edo State.
The newly sworn-in commissioners include Vincent Osas Uwadia, Etin-osa Ogbeiwi, Saturday Uwuilekhue Idehen (JP), Charity Amayaenvbo, Nosa Adams, Yakubu Oshiorenua, Felix Akhabue, Omorodion Ignatius, Ohimai Ehijimetor, Eugenia Abdallah, Godwin Afekokhe Eshieshi, Kassim Afegbua, Jerry Uwangue, John Akhigbe, Festus Ebea, Elizabeth Ebosele, Jerry Uwangue, Kenneth Okoruwa Ihensekhien and Usenbo Paul Ehigie.
