By Ozioruva Aliu
BENIN CITY — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Monday said there was nothing wrong with appointing 4,000 Special Assistants (SAs), explaining that the move would help take governance to the grassroots.
Okpebholo stated this during a meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) members from the 18 local government areas of the state, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the party and taking governance to the grassroots.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Patrick Ebojele, the governor expressed appreciation to party members for their support and emphasised the importance of unity within the APC.
“I want to say good morning to everybody and tell you that I love you all. I want to let you know that the party is our party. We don’t have any other party than APC,” the governor said.
He said his administration would continue to ensure that governance reached the grassroots, stressing that development and opportunities must flow from the state level down to the wards.
“So we are taking the governance to the grassroots, so that whatever is from the top, will also go down to the bottom.
“Appointing 4,000 SAs is not an issue at all because we all work for this victory. The victory does not belong to Okpebholo alone,” he said, while thanking party members for their support.
Earlier, the APC state chairman, Jarret Tenebe, commended the governor for what he described as efforts to reposition and strengthen the party since assuming office.
Tenebe said the APC had become more active and stable under Okpebholo’s administration, adding that the governor had created opportunities for party members to participate in governance and take the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
According to him, the administration had also made provisions for the party to operate more effectively, including plans for the party to have a vehicle for its activities.
He said several APC faithful had been considered for appointment as Special Assistants, attributing the development to the governor’s understanding of both politics and governance.
The APC chairman said the governor had also approved the appointment of 25 Special Assistants in each of the 192 wards across the state.
He explained that the meeting with ward chairmen and other party members was convened to communicate the criteria and guidelines for selecting beneficiaries of the appointments.
“In his magnanimity, the governor has decided to appoint 25 SAs in each of the 192 wards across the state. And that is the reason why we decided to invite ward chairmen and members to this meeting so we can tell you the criteria to select these people that will benefit from this appointment,” Tenebe said.
He disclosed that the APC State Working Committee had constituted a committee to interface with the various wards and ensure that the stipulated guidelines were followed in the selection process.
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