HURRAY!! Come Thursday, November 12, 2015 Edo people will have every reason to celebrate seven solid years of purposeful leadership of our Peoples Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who was elected, first on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria and in his second term, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The day he assumed office on November 12, 2008 was a day of watershed in the annals of Edo, a land where citizens were thirsty for change for so many years. God who saw their long suffering in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) felt it was time to respond to their many years of prayer and supplication by giving them a transformational leader.
We are glad today that the All Progressives Congress has flushed out the corrupt and inept government of the Peoples Democratic Party at the federal level and Nigerians are happy that the monumental developmental strides of the APC-led State Governments of Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun and others would now begin to happen at the federal level.
Many thanks to the political sagacity and courage of our amiable governor, Adams Oshiomhole, former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai and a host others who made this happen.
An average Edo citizen who knows where we are coming from would forever be grateful to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his selfless, visionary and purposeful leadership this past seven years. It is important to emphasise that whatever shortcomings we are witnessing today, Oshiomhole means well for Edo people.
In appraising a governor’s performance, you do so looking at certain indicators- Where we were in development before he assumed office and where we are seven years after? what goals and objectives did he set out to achieve these past seven years? What have we, as a people achieved? What are his intents for the future of our beloved state?
Since Oshiomhole assumed office in 2008, we have seen the best of roads, primary and secondary schools under the red roof revolution across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Water is being provided in communities where PDP told us that it was impossible to get water. This is happening in Edo Central and Edo North. Hospitals are being reconstructed and furnished.
An ultra modern hospital is nearing completion at the Central Hospital premises in the heart of Benin City. The ultra modern hospital is being equipped with state- of -the -arts facilities.
On completion, and inauguration before Oshiomhole takes his glorious bow and proceed to the federal government next year, Edo people would be among the first citizens of Nigeria to bid farewell to sojourn abroad for medical care. This is an important legacy the Oshiomhole government is bequeathing Edo people.
The Comrade buses have greatly enhanced the transportation burden of the poor Edo people, citizens now ride in comfortable mass transit buses across the state to their various destinations. Most importantly, school children go to school and return every school day free of charge.
This has ameliorated the sufferings of the poor who also have the rare privilege of giving the same children free, qualitative education being provided by the Oshiomhole administration up to the basic education level.
Youth and Women empowerment is a daily occurrence as more youths are being positively employed in both Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) even though the problem of youth unemployment which has become a national malaise is still largely unresolved across the country. Market women have gotten millions of Naira to improve their businesses and are all happy with the Oshiomhole government.
Some critics of our beloved comrade governor’s administration have spoken from partisan perspectives.
On the social side, night life has bounced back to Benin courtesy of the urban renewal project embarked upon by the Oshiomhole administration.
The King Square has continued to be a beehive of social events which usually attract thousands of fun seekers. People take good advantage of the facilities at the King Square to have fun at nights and other social places scattered all around Benin City.
Before now, when it is 8.00pm everybody run into their homes lock up their doors and gates in for fear of attack by intruders, but Oshiomhole’s government has solved all that. People now enjoy their weekends, nights and ceremonies in Benin.
Safety of lives and property has greatly improved this past seven years than ever. The ban on okada by the administration which served hoodlums and cultists as quick getaway means also helped to improve security situation in the GRA areas of Benin and all parts of Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas that make up Benin City.
The PDP seeing the monumental work done by Comrade Oshiomhole this past seven years are quick to say he borrowed money to finance development we are witnessing. What is important is the productive and prudent use of the money borrowed which everyone in the state can see. Even the blind PDP can feel.
Edo people have every reason to celebrate the Oshiomhole administration. As we move into the last lap of his administration, we need to begin to plan on how to honour a man who have served the state meritoriously. In my considered opinion, the best parting gift for Adams Oshiomhole is for all and sundry to support whomsoever he anoints to take the baton of leadership from him.
Someone with the same courage and leadership acumen as he possesses who would serve the state irrespective of whose ox is gored in the process of law enforcement. So, I salute our Comrade Governor and the entire people of Edo State on the historic milestone of seventh year anniversary of his administration.
– (Nigerian Observer)
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