An Open Letter To His Excellency, Monday Okpebholo (Executive Governor Of Edo State) -By Dokpesi Timothy Adidi

I am writing to you as a Nigerian from Edo State who, in my track record, has constantly engaged governors irrespective of where the state is geographically situated. Most times I write of necessity, especially when democratic principles are threatened. It is on this note that I am reaching out to you as the Governor of Edo State. Fortunately, it is the state where I was born and from where I originated. This, I think, makes it an imperative to write you before things get out of hand.

I recently watched a video that went viral about your threats on Mr. Peter Obi. I had to be very sure it was you who made those inciting words and asked that the video be sent to me for verification. Upon watching the video, I had to double-check again not to become a victim of AI-generated content in an environment where ethical concerns are not put into consideration before uploading content. Hence, to my greatest surprise, it was you. In fact, I watched various commentaries on the issue at hand and how lots of commentators lambasted you on social media and on national TV. This was for me a great disappointment from a highly placed and respectable governor duly elected by the people of Edo State as upheld by the courts. Such attacks were very unnecessary and uncalled for. Nonetheless, as I write this letter to you, if eventually an audit of the video proves negative, I sincerely apologize for the misinformation and misrepresentation this must have cost you and thereby renders this letter invalid.

Your Excellency, I am not writing to insult you, and I will never do such. In engaging governors, I do so with utmost respect and decorum despite the unguarded nature of your speech as seen in the video. You displayed an anti-democratic characteristic, which ought not to be seen or exemplified in your nature. Always have it in mind that you are a Democrat, and as such, you ought to accommodate opposing political parties, of which I belong to none due to the political climate. This does not in any way reduce my right to vote for any political party; as such, to regulate the activities of political parties in Edo State is a democratic concern, and I advise you to apologize to the people of Edo State for this unruly political behavior. Your apologies will go a long way to reset history, rebuild bridges, and restore democratic hope to the Edo State people.

Political morality is considered the hallmark of applying moral standards to political decisions and actions, and this is known as political ethics. It includes the ethics of policies (the morality of laws and regulations) as well as the ethics of political processes (the conduct of officials). In essence, it is the study of how moral principles ought to impact and direct political life. Therefore, your act to put a threat on political parties to come to Edo State is wrong. What is wrong is wrong, and what is right is right. Any attempt to politicize this is a reductive moral standard that becomes politically scandalous.

My dear Governor, I hope with this recent development you will put in place a renewed spirit of political bipartisanship agency to help rebuild, restore, and accommodate political parties for a vibrant democratic engagement. This will not be a threat to your office, but it will boost your political career and profile, and it will even attract members of other political parties to you. As I write this letter to you, some political jobbers might begin to deceive you to resist doing the right thing. This is expected, and as such, I leave you to your conscience to do what is right for the sake of posterity.

Yours Sincerely,
ADIDI, Dokpesi Timothy, Ph.D.