By Edwin Adonis
It was an incredible feat for Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki to emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the 2016 governorship election in Edo state. This was against the backdrop of the array of aspirants who were on ground to vie for the governorship ticket. As providence would have it, Godwin Obaseki was more favoured against all odds, especially as the Chairman of the Economic and Strategy team of his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for eight years. Since November 12, 2016, the quiet and dynamic governor has been in the saddle as governor of the Heart- Beat state. For the past three years, the amiable governor has given a good account of himself as a financial investment expert, prudent administrator who believes that government belongs to the people and the people should lead in any given and ideal society. His giant strides these past years know no bounds, as he has made his impact, along with his dynamic team felt in all areas of human endeavour.
On assumption of office, he tackled the issue of criminality in the state, making the few oppressors of the masses to go underground, while culprits were brought to book. He improved on the security system in the state and gave both financial and moral support to the security agencies. Logistics were provided by the state government to enable the police and other security agencies to fight crime in the state. The ravaging Community Development Associations (CDAs), a militia arm of youths in Benin Kingdom and Edo state was disbanded and outlawed by the state government with the support of the Oba of Benin Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare 11.
Today, we have “Operation Wabaizigan” among other security outfits of government to protect lives and property in the state. With this, investment in the state got a boost, both local and foreign. Little wonder that Mr. Charles Osagie, Coordinator, Emperor Charlie Brown Conglomerate for Edos in Diaspora said that with the inception of Godwin Obaseki’s administration in the state, Edo citizens in the Diaspora now come home on holidays, business and visits to see their loved ones and sleep at night with their two eyes closed.
The group with their representatives who have been in Edo state since November 2019, has vowed to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Obaseki returns to the government house from November 12 and beyond. According to the group, the success in providing security for inhabitants in the state and in other sectors informed the decision of Edo citizens in the Diaspora to declare their unflinching support for the governor’s second term bid.
Mr. Godwin Obaseki popularly described as the “wake and see” governor of Edo state has a lot to show for his over three years in the saddle. As a technocrat he stopped the leakage in the Internally Generated Revenue of the state, where hitherto, revenue collections were diverted to private pockets with nothing left for the government to channel for infrastructural development. So far, Governor Obaseki has ensured that revenue collected in the state goes into the coffers of the government to fast track development of the state.
This prudent measure and ability to manage human and material resources has increased the Internally Generated Revenue of the state. Chief Obabuofo of Benin described the governor as a man who is very good in managing resources both human, material and money” If you look at the state now, he is doing very well”, Chief Obabuofo said. It is also no gain saying the fact that the state government has transformed the Education sector, which had earned the governor commendation from the Minister of Education, winning awards for his giant strides in uplifting the standard of education in the state and reposition some secondary schools, returning sanity to the schools with moral values. A lot has been done to make the tertiary institutions a great citadel of learning and academic excellence.
In Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, the state has excelled globally under the government of Godwin Obaseki. It is worthy to note that the EDO NAFEST 2019 was held in Benin City as first of its kind after 40 years, an event that put Edo state on the world map.
Governor Obaseki has put in a lot in re- awakening the culture of Edo state, a man who carefully chooses culture and tourism as one of the systematic pillars of his government, because he knows the value of our culture and tourism.
Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo also commended Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki for pursuing a cultural agenda with recovering the lost treasures of the state scattered across the globe and Obaseki’- led administration’s vision to reposition the state as the foremost destination for tourism. As we diversify and move our nation in the direction of revenue beyond oil, tourism is clearly one sector which has untold potential for growth. Edo state is blazing a trail in the direction”, Prof. Osinbajo further said.
In the Health sector, governor Obaseki and his dynamic team has improved the health care delivery system in the state in line with international best practices. In this era of COVID – 19, Edo state is well represented in the fight against the spread of the disease. In the area of infrastructure, the state government has recorded a lot of achievements. While so many roads have been constructed in various parts of the state with more that are on- going, the state government has successfully built many structures in the state Secretariat, High Court, and other parts of the state capital including a befitting training institute.
The Ekehuan road construction leading to Gele Gele Sea port is a laudable on- going project that must be completed by ensuring a second tenure for the hard working governor. Vocational training and Skills acquisition centres have been given their pride of place in the state. The state government has also provided jobs for the youths through its various youth empowerment programmes to reduce unemployment in the state. Agriculture has been given the required attention by the Obaseki administration in the efforts to diversify into non-oil revenue areas and in line with the policy of the federal government to ensure food for all and raise foreign exchange from the Agricultural sector. With prudent management, salaries of workers in the state and pensioners are paid as at when due, leaving the state with a robust economy. Edo state being a strategic location for investment, the governor is focused on attracting both local and foreign investors and to make Edo state an economic hub in the country. With these numerous milestones recorded by the “wake and see” governor, the fact that Godwin Obaseki deserves a second tenure to consolidate and improve on his performance need not be over- emphasised.
While addressing Journalists at the December 20, 2019 edition of the annual breakfast party with media practitioners in the state, the Deputy Governor of Edo state, Rt Hon, Comrade Philip Shaibu said the ” wake and see” will be taken to the next level by the grace of God. We are at the basics like the governor said, we have to deal with the basics and in the second term, we are going to the secondary. That means redefining the will of the state to be sustained after we leave government. Everything we have done in this government is with policies. We enact laws. An acronym has been passed by the Edo people, the wake and see”, Philip Shaibu stated.
However, with the political intrigues in the state and country at large, regarding the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) primary election, his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and eventual clinching of the PDP governorship ticket as the party’s flag bearer for the September 19, governorship election in the state, there are strong indications that Governor Obaseki is on the right path , towards securing his second tenure in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state.
The rousing welcome and warm reception accorded him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the overwhelming support from elder statesmen like Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, a former Commissioner for education in the defunct Bendel state, former Federal Commissioner for Information under General Yakubu Gowon, and National Leader, Niger- Delta Region and South- South; Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, first Executive Governor of Edo state and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC ), and as well as other well-meaning Nigerians, there is no doubt that the man who refused to share Edo state commonwealth to party leaders and god fathers, so as to bring development to the state and alleviate the sufferings of the masses in the state, is on the threshold of making another history as the re- elected governor of Edo state on September 19, 2020, despite the clandestine moves by his detractors to thwart his efforts. All the people are saying now is Obaseki must get his 4+4 = 8.
