The current investigations launched by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Monday Okpebholo into the financial agreements and project arrangements of the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki mark a significant moment in Edo State’s democratic evolution. Regardless of whatever political perfume the Okpebholo administration may be spraying over its intentions, the mere fact that these inquiries are being conducted openly—and through the Edo State House of Assembly—is a milestone worth noting.
For decades, governance in many Nigerian states has resembled a secret society: decisions made in dimly lit corners, contracts awarded with whispered approvals, and the people informed only when the ribbon was ready to be cut. But now, with the Assembly stepping into the ring and dragging executive actions under the bright white lights of public scrutiny, a new chapter may finally be unfolding.
This is the kind of institutional strengthening democracies are built on. When state leaders and their cabinet chiefs know that their decisions can (and very likely will) be questioned in open hearings—not by political opponents alone but by the public—governance begins to shift from the “imperial governor mentality” to the constitutional model Nigeria claims to operate. Poor decisions, lopsided deals, or questionable financial arrangements can no longer hide in the shadow of “executive discretion.” Light is finally getting into rooms where it has long been unwelcome.
Yet, the enthusiasm over this development must be accompanied by one important reminder: what is good for the gander is most certainly good for the goose.
Governor Okpebholo must recognise that this new era of accountability does not come with immunity clauses written in invisible ink. His administration’s unilateral award of the contracts for the Ikpoba Hill and Adesuwa flyovers—whether out of urgency, enthusiasm, or political calculation—is already marked for the future archives of public inquiry. Even if the House of Assembly decides to be polite for now, history guarantees that what is not investigated today will be interrogated tomorrow, often with more zeal and less courtesy.
This is not a threat. It is the natural consequence of institutional awakening. Edo State is slowly entering a phase where executive actions cannot simply be declared into existence; they must stand on legislative authority, procedural correctness, and constitutional balance. The days when a governor could act first and seek statutory justification later are fading—and rightly so. Decisions taken in breach of legislative backing stand vulnerable not only in courtrooms but in the court of public opinion, where political longevity is rarely kind.
If the political musical chairs continue—as they inevitably will—each actor will eventually find themselves sitting on the receiving end of the same scrutiny they once directed at others. And that is precisely how democracy is supposed to function.
In the end, the ongoing investigations are not just about Obaseki’s decisions or Okpebholo’s politics. They are about building a governance culture where transparency is the rule, not an occasional performance. Edo State should encourage this trend, deepen it, and institutionalise it. Because once checks and balances move from theory to practice, governance becomes less about personalities and more about processes—and that is the evolution Nigeria desperately needs.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 