The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that residents have given him a new nickname, changing it from “Akpako Rescue” to “Okpe’s baby”. He said the positive reception he receives from the public brings him joy.
The governor made this known during a live broadcast shared by ITV and Radio on Saturday, recounting his experience while walking along Sapele Road.
“I was on Sapele Road yesterday. They have even changed my name from Akpako Rescue to Okphe’s baby. These things give me joy because I walk freely on the street; instead of throwing pure water at me, they are giving me sweet names” he said.
Okpebholo also expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu, praising the economic reforms introduced by the federal government and arguing that they were beginning to produce positive results, particularly in commodity prices and the foreign exchange market.
“Why do I have confidence to talk about Mr President? It’s because of many reforms this man has put in place that is yielding fruit for this country,” he said.
The governor urged business owners and members of the public to assess the changes in the economy since Tinubu assumed office, particularly the movement in the exchange rate and the prices of goods.
“If you cast your mind back to those that are businessmen here, or women, or those that have friends that are into business, or you that go to supermarkets anyway, or buying dollars, you will know what I mean,” he said.
He maintained that the exchange rate had remained relatively stable, with the naira gaining strength against the dollar. He contrasted the current situation with the long-held belief that prices in Nigeria rarely decline once they increase.
“Those days we used to say something, prices that go up in Nigeria never come down. But you can see prices of dollars coming down gradually, and it’s not going back up,” he said.
Okpebholo also defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had ended a system in which a small group of individuals benefited disproportionately from the nation’s resources.
“This man has been able to remove oil subsidies, whereby few individuals are serving the work of this country in their palm,” he said.