By Comrade Austin Asadu
If and when the history of Edo State and it’s political, socio-economic and Infrastructural advancement is written, there is no doubt that the names of His Excellency, Governor Dr Monday Okphebolo and High Chief Dr Leemon Ikpea (MON) will be emblazoned in gold letters as they have taken decisive steps to move the Hearbeat of the Nation to the next level in the crucial scheme of things.
Even before the historic election of Senator Monday Okphebolo as the Executive Governor of Edo State, a savvy High Chief lkpea had taken crucial steps to ensure that he would win the governorship ticket to contest the election on the APC platform.
At the tension-soaked APC stakeholders meeting to zone the governorship ticket held at the National Assembly premises, with prominent APC members in attendance including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Monday Okphebolo, Hon Julius lhovbare, Hon Akpatason, Hon Odianosen Okogie, amongst other APC chieftains, Chief Ikpea through his stalwart allies sent an unequivocal message that the governorship position be zoned to Edo Central Senatorial District without fail.
High Chief Leemon lkpea’s well reasoned argument was that Edo South and Edo North Senatorial Zones had completed eight solid years as Executive Governor of Edo State in the present democratic dispensation to the exclusion of Edo Central whose tenure of four years was during Governor Ambrose Alli as far back as 1979-1983!
In the interest of equity and justice, High Chief lkpea stated that it was only fair that Edo Central Senatorial District be allowed to produce the governorship candidate this time around and despite stiff opposition from the ‘powers that be’, Chief lkpea’s courageous stand won the day and the governorship ticket was zoned to Edo Central Zone thus paving way for the emergence of Dr Monday Okphebolo as Executive Governor of Edo State.
In the ongoing political calculus in Edo State, High Chief Leemon lkpea has joined hands with the amiable Governor Okphebolo in moving the state forward in the health, education, roads, power, water borehole, rural infrastructure, urban renewal, transportation, security, manpower development and women and youth empowerment sectors.
Apart from his junior brother, Hon Joseph lkpea offering his services as a Distinguished Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, a patriotic High Chief Leemon lkpea has deployed his business conglomerate, Lee Engineering and Construction Ltd’s engineering, oil and gas, aviation, tourism, industrial and manufacturing expertise to bear in turning Edo State to one vast construction site.
Presently, for free, High Chief Leemon lkpea has moved his heavy construction machinery including oil rigs, barges, caterpillars, cranes and forklifts to all the oil exploration sites, roads, primary and secondary schools, hospitals, health centers etc being constructed or rehabilitated across the length and breadth of Edo State.
High Chief Ikpea has also moved to ensure that the tourism and aviation potentials of his beloved state are tapped exponentially utilising his Tribet Aviation and Tribet Travel and Tours business franchise.
Tabulating the scope, depth and breadth of Chief Leemon lkpea’s socio-economic, infrastructural and developmental impactful actions and programs in Edo State is beyond the time and space of this short piece but it is germane to state that Chief Dr Leemon Ikpea is the undisputed political collosus and unrivaled grassroots emancipator per excellence of Edo State. He has come, he has seen and he is busy taking Edo State to the greatest heights of progress, development, growth and prosperity.
To God be the Glory.
Comrade Asadu is of Niger Delta Professional Network
