The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, says the political faceoffs currently being witnessed in the state is because of his administration’s fight against warlords and non-state actors, who had controlled the resources of the Edo people.
The governor made this known during a meeting with Benin Elders Forum in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration in delivering the dividends of democracy through his various reforms and developmental projects.
“You are all witnesses to what is happening and I am sure that you will ask what exactly is going on. When the change occurred in 2016, I had no doubt in my mind to jump into the train to continue the reforms which we had started, but what I didn’t realise is that the rot was so deep and fundamental; it was not just a rot in physical expression but it was becoming cultural.
“You come into Edo and you cannot drive through the city, because we had warlords that had taken possession of everywhere. In fact, when we had to clear Lagos Street, we found out that people had erected stores and shops on the street. It then became clear that there was a lot more work to do.”
The governor continued, “I just could not understand why Oredo Local Government Area, for instance, could not earn more than five million naira as taxes monthly, meanwhile, there were non-state actors who were celebrating having billions in their private bank accounts at the expense of government. Once I came in, these non- state actors began to almost physically threaten the state and I had no choice than to dislodge them in good faith.
The Governor said Edo state wouldn’t progress if the people struggling to join in policy making are mere touts and school dropouts.
“I thought this was something we had all agreed to do; I thought we were happy that now we can drive through Oba Market; I thought we were all comfortable with the sanity in the city. But today what do we have? A fightback from these characters and they are getting support from sources you can’t believe. How can you have a city and it is only those who refused to go to school and have turned themselves into thugs and touts that want to dominate our polity? How can we have progress?”
Governor Obaseki said his administration will not relent in transforming the economic fortunes of Edo people.
“In all the things I am hearing, nobody has been able to tell me what exactly the policy issues are. Is it that ensuring you build infrastructure at the right price is not the right thing to do? Or building roads is not the right thing to do? Or is trying to get more resources of the state to work for the people not the right thing to do? Is paying teachers and strengthening the education sector, not the right thing to do? Nobody has told me in all what we have done today that there are some policies that we have, that are wrong.
Obaseki further stated the need of a blueprint for the state’s future given the population is only on the increase.
“If we must develop, we must begin to grow the yam seed rather than eat it. We are four million people today, in another ten to twenty years, there will about ten million people. So, what’s the plan for the future? We will continue in our developmental strides as long as they impact on the lives of the ordinary Edo people.”
Governor Obaseki would likely contest for the All Progressive’s Congress’s gubernatorial ticket later this year.
However, many have foretold his minimal chances given his seemingly unending feud with Comrade Oshiomole, his predecessor who doubles as the APC National chairman.
MY ONLY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO FIND A WAY THAT YOU WILL HANDLE THE ARMY AND THE POLICE THAT WOULD COME TO RIG YOU OUT OF THE ELECTION this year. AS WE ALL SAW IN BAYELSA AND KOGI period.