Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo is delighted by the warm reception he now receives from residents, who have given him a new nickname.
The governor made this known during a live broadcast on ITV Radio, where he recalled meeting residents while walking along Sapele Road in Benin City.
He said residents now welcome him warmly and call him affectionate names, unlike before when they insulted him and threw sachets of water at him.
He noted that his former nickname, “Akpako Rescue,” has been replaced with “Okpe’s baby,” a change he described as a source of joy.
“They have even changed my name from Akpako Rescue to Okpe’s baby. These things give me joy because I walk freely on the street; instead of throwing pure water at me, they are giving me sweet names,” he stated.
Okpebholo also commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, pointing to shifts in commodity prices and the foreign exchange market as evidence of progress.
His comments have spotlighted the governor’s story of how his reception among Edo residents has changed, and the new nickname they now call him.