Gov. Okpebholo and the Danger of False Narratives -- By Eubaldus Enahoro

In recent months, social media platforms have been flooded with stories, videos, and false claims about the administration of Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo. Some reports are genuine concerns that deserve scrutiny and others are fabricated narratives designed to mislead, provoke anger, and tarnish reputations. 

We all know that false stories thrive on three things: emotion, anonymity, and speed. A sensational headline gets more clicks than a boring fact. A faceless account can post what a real person would not say in public. And by the time the facts are verified, the lie has already circled the world twice, as the old proverb says.

A desperado seeking attention can go any length to cook up stories oblivious of the damage that singular action will do to the state. They have said Governor Monday Okpebholo has done nothing and whip up sentiments about the insecurity in the nation

The damage is not just to one person. When false stories target a sitting governor, the target is Edo State itself. Investors hesitate. Development partners ask questions. Citizens lose trust. The image of our state — the Heartbeat of the Nation — takes the hit.

It is therefore very appalling that some persons have made themselves serial critics of the government closing their eyes to the giant strides of the administration so far.

They have deliberately refused to understand that no government anywhere is perfect.

The state was not entirely free of security challenges, but the situation has been exaggerated by those with political motives.

According to the Governor, " All of this is just to bring this government down, to give it a bad name. It is not that we are free, but not in the way they are hyping it."

When we ignorantly succeed in  destroying what we should build, it is the people that suffer indirectly 

In as much as constructive criticism makes democracy stronger, such criticism should be anchored on facts. Every allegation must pass the test of verification. 

Now, in Edo state some people obviously in the opposition political parties are not happy with the great strides of the Governor whom they least expect will perform excellently beyond their expectations.

Also, there are others, including a fellow who has been going about for the past eighteen years or so claiming to be the chairman of an inconsequential organization,  Conference of registered political parties, using the platform to mislead the public with falsehood.

Several statements have been issued by the organization to Journalists to pull down the government of Senator Monday Okpebholo. They have among others accused the Governor of not doing anything  and being unable to curb the insecurity in the state

In an engagement with Journalists in Benin City recently, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua advised them to always interrogate the source of their reports and not to be used to mislead the public.

The same standard should apply to every citizen with a smartphone, because we now live in a nation where anybody can send stories through the social media

They are not seeing how the  transformative blueprint for Edo state development, Project SHINE, which stands for Security, Health Care, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Food Sufficiency and Education is impacting on Edo people.

The Governor is not just interested in having a blue print on paper, but transforming it into projects and programmes that Edo Citizens can see, like the Ramat Park Flyover and several projects across the state

Interestingly, the Governor is focused on the successful implementation of the five points "SHINE" agenda for the state development and has refused to be distracted.

It must be noted that Governor Okpebholo, like every public official, can be held accountable through verifiable data, official records, and responsible journalism. That is how democracy grows. 

But the Spread of  unverified claims does the opposite — it distracts the government from work, divides communities, and wastes energy that should go into building roads, schools, and hospitals.

One would have expected the  critics of the Governor  to praise the administration for the bold initiative that has transformed Edo to a construction site in less than twenty months  with the massive construction and renovation of roads, schools, hospitals, two Flyover bridges, revival of the New Edo Line Transport Service, boosting of agriculture and food security, supporting local farmers and tackling food scarcity with sustainable food production.

The Governor has intervened to arrest the wrought inherited by his administration, providing solutions to under development across the state.

The people should talk about the progress of work  on the Gelegele road,  the completion of the Evbuotubu road in Egor local government area, linking Ekenwan to Siluko road, a major relief that has restored economic activities in the area. The construction of  the road linking 14 villages in Uhunmwode, the Uromi axis, Ekpoma down to Uromi which are almost completed. The transformation of the rural community of Udomi in Esan Central 

In Edo North, the Ibillo road, Ekpeshi/Igarra roads now wearing new look and over 80 schools, 160 primary health care centers spread across the 18 local government areas to provide health care to rural folks.

The work at the Stella Obasanjo hospital is nearing completion after the state government paid off the huge debt inherited, and the Oredo Health Center has been adequately equipped to serve general purpose

For those who still want to go ahead to misinform the public that Governor Okpebholo has done nothing, they should talk about projects spread  across the 18  local government areas

It would be recalled that  earth moving equipment were handed over to the local government areas to open the rural areas  to complement the state government in critical infrastructural development 

In the words of Prince Kassim Afegbua, " what the government is doing are verifiable and not propaganda. Governor Okpebholo is applying practical governance approach which can be seen by everyone."

But, if anyone claims not to see what the Governor is doing and insists nothing has been done,  Edo people have no choice than to tell them to wake up from their slumber because Edo is Shining.

As patriotic Edo people we must always ask for evidence of any allegations against the state government.  For example,  a video without context is not proof. 

Irrespective of our political inclination let us protect our collective image because Edo’s reputation is built by all of us. 

When false stories go viral, they become the first result when someone Googles “Edo State”. Let the truth be the first story we tell.

It is very important to remember that there are laws and we must use the law responsibly, knowing  that the Cybercrimes Act and defamation laws exist for a reason. 

But more important than law is conscience. Let us not spread what we cannot defend with facts. 

While Governor Okpebholo and his administration remain open to scrutiny, the Citizens must remain committed to facts.

Edo does not need more rumors. It needs more results. And results are only possible when we spend less time fighting false stories and more time building our state.

Eubaldus Enahoro is Former Editor, Nigerian Observer