Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of 4,800 Special Assistants (SAs) as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots governance and deepen the participation of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in government.

Governor Okpebholo disclosed this on Monday at the Government House, Benin City, during a meeting with APC members from the 18 local government areas of the state.

The Governor said his administration was committed to strengthening the APC and ensuring that the benefits of governance reach communities across the state.

He said the administration was taking governance to the grassroots to ensure that development, opportunities and government programmes extend from the state level to the wards.

“We are taking governance to the grassroots, so that whatever is from the top will also go down to the bottom,” Okpebholo said.

Speaking on the appointment of the 4,800 Special Assistants, the governor said the initiative was in recognition of the contributions of party members to the APC’s victory.

“Appointing 4,800 SAs is not an issue at all because we all worked for this victory. The victory does not belong to Okpebholo alone,” he said, while expressing appreciation to APC members for their support.

Earlier, the APC State Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, commended Okpebholo for his efforts to reposition and strengthen the party since assuming office.

Tenebe said the party had become more active and stable under the governor’s administration, noting that Okpebholo had created opportunities for party members to participate in governance and take the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

According to him, the governor approved the appointment of 25 Special Assistants in each of the 192 wards across the state, bringing the total number of appointments to 4,800.

He said the meeting with ward chairmen and other party members was convened to explain 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 wards in 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.

The APC chairman added that the party’s State Working Committee had constituted a committee to interface with the various wards and ensure compliance with the stipulated guidelines in the selection process.

He said the committee would also compile the names of qualified nominees and forward them to the party headquarters in Benin City.

Tenebe further commended the administration for providing opportunities for the party to operate more effectively, including plans to provide the APC with a vehicle for its activities.

He said the administration had also supported APC candidates in the local government elections, including councillors and council chairmen, describing the development as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots structure.

The meeting was attended by members of the APC State Working Committee, Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Chief of Staff to the Governor, ward chairmen and other party representatives from the 18 local government areas of the state.

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