The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, views the official carnival that has been up in the last few days to mark 5 years of the administration of Mr Godwin Obaseki in the State as a show of shame. This is because his style of governance during the period under review has been anything but daydreams and nightmares for the people.
It is in this light that the party views the annual Alaghodaro summit, in all its hype of an orchestra packaged to mark the period, as symptomatic of a rudderless government. For all it is worth, Edo as a state and a people is in agony over an Obaseki regime which is trying so hard to erode the virtues of his predecessor in office.
At the foundation of every responsible government ought to be a credible, honest and humane leadership, respecting the wishes of the people, the separation of powers and upholding the oath of office. Painfully, the Obaseki regime has continued to suppress the legislative and judicial arms in our state knowing fully well that their roles are central to the democratic process and good governance in our state. He daily churns out fresh plans, new schemes and novel schedules, with no clear objectives.
It is instructive to note that Mr Obaseki returned to power in 2020 for a second term as a result of his many promises in
his Make Edo Great Again (MEGA) manifesto. At this same time last year he predicted that before 2025, “Edo State will develop and grow its digital economy and operate a digital government, adding that “we are building to plug into the new digital age and will ensure we deliver better and efficient services to all our citizens”.
Edo people can recall that this governor promised that with the MEGA, his focus will be on the social sector by improving on education, healthcare system, provision of social security and safety nets, caring for the vulnerable and the disadvantaged in the society. He also promised to rapidly develop critical energy, housing, digital and road infrastructure, preserve the environment and public utilities and make the state more functional and adapt to the challenges of climate change and rural-urban migration.
In addition, the APC recalls the governor’s profuse declaration that, “Our major drive will be the clean and green Edo initiative and sustaining our campaign to plant trees and restore the forest”, with a pledge to, “Enshrine peace amongst our people and improve the general security to lives and property within the state, by working closely with all religious, traditional and community stakeholders.
Funny enough, this weekend, Mr Governor has jumped off his MEGA train and embarked on a 30-year trip, whereas he has less than three years approved for him. In his words, the Edo state 30-year development plan is not a document but a new system or process, with economic and physical planners in Beirut, London, Lagos, Portharcourt and Benin. He even acknowledged that, “I cannot guarantee that my successor can do better than I have done” then why waste so much time and money on this pipedream?
For a governor who has the record of borrowing more than any other governor before him, Mr Obaseki says finance will not stand in the way of his 30-years trip. It is now on this trip that he hopes to build his Gelegele seaport (which he now calls Benin River port), the new Edo International airport (instead of a passenger airport site) and make Edo the Cultural hub of Africa, with looted artefacts, belonging to tradition. Is it not obvious that like MEGA, this 30-year Edo State development plan will soon be a thing of the past?
The APC does not see why the Edo state Governor is jubilating for executing a list of statutory duties. Why celebrate when out of a population of 4million the government could only provide 500,000 citizens with Covid-19 relief materials from a N2billion budget? What is the excitement in ‘grading’ 600 road projects with at least one road in each of the 192 wards in the state? Or is it the billions that would have built another stadium but renovated the Sam Ogbemudia stadium that deserves the accolades? It must be the denial of Judicial autonomy, the demolition of private properties and the mortgaging of Edo state assets to multinationals to build supermarkets?
Edo must move forward
Signed
Victor Ofure Osehobo
ASPS, Edo APC
osehobofure1@gmail.com