A Passionate Appeal on Hon. Sylvester Aigbobo, Edo State APC Deputy State Chairman
There are men who simply work, and there are men who labour and sacrifice. There are men who arrive when the table is set, and there are men who were in the kitchen when there was no fire, no certainty and no assurance that the meal would ever be served.
Hon. Sylvester Aigbobo belongs to the latter.
As we witness growing conversations and concerns capable of creating misunderstanding between our performing Governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his trusted ally, Hon. Sylvester Aigbobo, I believe it has become necessary, in the interest of truth, loyalty and the unity of our great party, to appeal to everyone to exercise restraint and allow friendship, trust and mutual respect to prevail.
Sylvester Aigbobo is not a political stranger who appeared at the end of the journey to claim credit for work he did not do. He was part of the journey.
He is a builder. A loyalist. A brother. A friend who, during the difficult days, made calls, reached out to leaders and stakeholders across the 18 Local Government Areas, engaged people across different interests and worked tirelessly toward the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo as Governor of Edo State.
When the outcome was uncertain, he remained committed. When the journey was difficult, he stood his ground. When many were still unsure of what the future would bring, he continued to give his time, energy, resources and personal commitment to the cause.
Today, Hon. Aigbobo serves as the Deputy State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. Whatever one may say about political positions, one thing should not be forgotten: he has been part of the political journey that brought this administration to where it is today.
His present position should therefore not become a source of unnecessary suspicion or division between him and the Governor.
Let us not punish loyalty.
Let us not allow rumours, assumptions or the interpretations of third parties to create enemies where there is a history of friendship and collaboration.
Let us not build a wall of discord between a Governor and a man who has stood with him and supported him through difficult political seasons.
Hon. Aigbobo is a gentleman to the core — humble, accessible, respectful and deeply committed to the success of the administration and the progress of the APC in Edo State.
He has every right to continue to stand by his friend, his brother and his principal. That is what loyalty means. That is what friendship means.
If we see a man standing firmly with his friend in a season of responsibility and influence, let us remember that such loyalty is meaningful only when we acknowledge that he also stood with him when the journey was difficult.
This is therefore an appeal to all well-meaning leaders, stakeholders and members of our great party:
Let us choose unity over suspicion.
Let us choose dialogue over gossip.
Let us choose trust over division.
Let us choose the bigger interest of Edo State over personal misunderstandings.
Edo State needs unity. The APC needs cohesion. And every administration needs people who understand its journey, believe in its purpose and are willing to stand with it.
Hon. Sylvester Aigbobo has made his contributions. He has served the party. He has stood by his friend and principal. Let us allow him to continue to contribute meaningfully to the success of the administration and the progress of our party.
Loyalty should not become a crime. Friendship should not become a source of suspicion. And service should not become a reason for division.
Let us celebrate loyalty when we see it.
Let us protect the relationships that helped build the journey.
And above all, let us not build a wall of discord between a loyal friend and his principal.
— Comrade Solomon Okoduwa
Former SSA on Anti-Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration
Executive Director, Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) Nigeria
25th September, 2026
