A former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki has welcomed the decision of Rev. Olu Martins, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to support Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration, describing it as a “patriotic move” that prioritises development over party loyalty.

In a statement released Monday in Abuja, Mr. John Mayaki described the endorsement as both “courageous and conscientious,” adding that it reflects the bipartisan spirit needed in Edo State at a time of pressing economic and social challenges.

“Rev. Olu Martins has proven that loyalty to the people is greater than loyalty to party slogans,” Mayaki said. “Edo needs builders, not just talkers, and Martins has shown he is willing to build.”

Mayaki, now serving as Country Director of the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, argued that opposition politics anchored solely on criticism offers little value to citizens.

“Criticism cannot repair roads, it cannot create jobs, it cannot heal hospitals,” he said. “Only purposeful governance can. Okpebholo has started on a note of seriousness, and it is only fair that all men of goodwill lend their support.”

He urged other opposition figures to follow suit, setting aside “partisan bitterness” to confront issues such as insecurity, unemployment, and infrastructure decay. “The ghosts of the past cannot continue to hold Edo down,” he added.