Politics thrives on slogans. They are not just catchy phrases; they are battle cries that define moments, mobilize people, and sometimes outlive the politicians who coined them. In 2020, former Governor Godwin Obaseki gave Nigeria one of the most memorable political slogans of the decade: “Edo no be Lagos.”
It was a defiant message aimed squarely at political godfatherism, directed at the influence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The slogan was bold, emotional, and effective. Edo people embraced it, not merely as a phrase but as a statement of independence. It captured the spirit of resistance, helped Obaseki secure his reelection, and etched itself in the political history of the state.
But politics is fluid. Four years later, the tables have turned. In the September 21, 2024 election, the APC reclaimed Edo State with Senator Monday Okpebholo defeating the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo. On November 12, 2024, he was sworn in as governor. With his victory came a shift in tone, and with it, a new slogan: “Small Yarn, More Work.”
Unlike Obaseki’s fiery declaration, Okpebholo’s mantra is understated, pragmatic, and deliberately modest. It speaks less to political confrontation and more to governance. And in his short time in office, the governor has begun to show that he means business.
In infrastructure, his administration has already flagged off multiple road projects, including a 14-kilometre stretch connecting nine communities, the rehabilitation of key Benin City roads, and plans for a flyover at Ramat Park. He commissioned a 2.5 MVA injection sub-station in Udomi, improving electricity access, and relaunched Edo’s public transport system with 100 buses.
In health, his government oversaw the establishment of the first National Obstetrics Fistula Center in the South-South, rolled out a free malaria testing and treatment programme, and allocated ₦63.8 billion to health in the 2025 budget. In agriculture and economic development, he introduced the “SHINE” agenda—Security, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Natural resources & Agriculture, and Education—backed by federal partnerships for major road dualizations and agricultural equipment procurement.
For a governor barely settling into office, these early strides demonstrate that “Small Yarn, More Work” is more than a campaign line—it is a governing philosophy.
Yet, beyond projects and policies, Edo also needs a unifying vision. Obaseki’s “Edo no be Lagos” united people around resistance; Okpebholo must unite them around progress. That is why a complementary slogan such as “One Edo, One Future” could serve as the broader banner under which his administration rallies the people. It reflects inclusivity, shared growth, and a future built not on divisions of the past, but on collective aspirations.
Edo politics has moved from confrontation to consolidation. The people are no longer impressed by who can coin the loudest slogan; they are watching for who can deliver the quietest results. If the early signs are anything to go by, Governor Okpebholo’s administration is already making the case that sometimes, governance works best when leaders talk less and work more.
In the end, Edo does not just need slogans—it needs substance. And for now, the substance is beginning to show.
– Prince Moses Emani Salami writes from Kogi state.
