GOVERNOR GODWIN NOGHEGHASE OBASEKI, WHY?
• YOU traveled far and wide to sign MOUs without implementation and execution of such projects. Why?
For any serious-minded government, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is the way to structure its engagement with private companies on key projects. Yes, Governor Obaseki has travelled far and wide and he has signed MOUs, which is a global standard in business practices. The products of the MoUs he has signed include:
- The 55MW Ossiomo Independent Power Plant (IPP), which has been completed and ready to power public facilities and government offices.
- The 1451-unit Emotan Gardens Estate project, another MoU project, is a reality at Upper Sakponba Road. The first phase has been completed and work is ongoing on more phases. Home owners have moved into their properties.
- JARA Mall at Sakponba Road was the product of an MoU signed between the Edo State Government and the promoters of the project. The mall is operational.
- The Edo Basic Education Transformation (Edo-BEST) Programme is the product of an MoU signed with Bridge International Limited
- Main One Limited through an MoU with the state government has laid over 400km fibre optic cables to boost internet connectivity in the state.
- Uber and Taxify also benefit from an MoU with the state government to facilitate their entry into the state’s business space.
- THESE ARE AMONG MANY OTHERS. THESE ARE VISIBLE TO EVERYONE IN THE STATE
• YOU deliberately refused to inaugurate 14 house of assembly members. Why?
The 14 members-elect were on the payroll of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and acting on his instructions, refused to get inaugurated at the House to represent their people. The governor had no hand in the matter.
• YOU refused to operate Benin specialist hospital built by Adams Oshiomhole. Why?
The Benin Specialist Hospital suffered initial setback because Comrade Oshiomhole made 100 percent upfront payment for the building and supply of equipment to the hospital. But after his tenure in office, government was being forced to make further payments, which was resisted. Governor Obaseki eventually restructured the arrangement and got new partners to work on the facility.
Today, the hospital is operational and with the installation of a molecular laboratory for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, it has been accredited by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to conduct the tests.
• YOU shut down the school of nursing in Benin City. Why?
Upon assessment of the state of the School of Nursing, Benin City, it was discovered that the school’s programmes were not accredited. The governor decided to restructure the school and get things to be done the right way. If the old order had persisted, our youths would have been wasting precious years in the school and their certificates would not be tenable for employment or further education anywhere.
• YOU shut down the college of Education Ekiadolor and owe the staff over 11 months salary. Why?
The College of Education Ekiadolor was not shut by the Governor Obaseki-led administration neither does the governor owe them salaries. In fact, the governor has cleared 6 months arrears owed by the Oshiomhole-led government and continued to pay subvention to the school even without the workers teaching in classrooms. Seeing that there was urgent need to revive the school after the misadventure by Comrade Oshiomhole, the governor approached the Federal Government to take over the school premises so as to boost funding and ensure a more sustainable structure.
The Federal Government thereafter approved for the siting of the Federal College of Education (Technical) at the site of the defunct college in Ekiadolor. The negotiation by the governor with the Federal Government is such that qualified staff of the defunct college would be given the right of first-refusal for staff employment into the new federal college, which kicks off in October this year.
• YOU shut down the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi since 2018 and disengage all members of staff of the Institution. Why?
On inspection of the state of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, it was discovered that the premises were not conducive for learning and teaching as the students were at the mercy of wild animals and were school without basic amenities.
The governor undertook to restructure the school into a tri-campus College of Agriculture, with campuses in Iguoriakhi, Agenebode and Uromi. The restructuring has been concluded and work has commenced at the main campus in Iguoriakhi.
The operational and logistics requirements for the take-off of programmes at the schools have been provided.
• YOU shut down the College of Education, Igueben. Why?
The College of Education is being restructured for sustainability after it was uncovered that the institutions were mismanaged under previous administrations, as was confirmed by a panel of inquiry set up to investigate the activities of three of the state’s colleges in the last ten years.
The new school will have campuses in Abudu (for training teachers in basic education; Afuze (for physical education) and Igueben (for secondary education and science teachers).
The rebuilding of the campus in Abudu has been completed and the school will admit new students in October.
• YOU shut down the College of Agricultural Technology, Agenebode. Why?
This has been merged with the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi to run a repatriate campus. See full explanation on question on Iguoriakhi.
• YOU shutdown the Michael Imodu College of Physical Education, Afuze. Why?
The College of Education is being restructured for sustainability after it was uncovered that the institutions were mismanaged under previous administrations, as was confirmed by a panel of inquiry set up to investigate the activities of three of the state’s colleges in the last ten years.
The new school will have campuses in Abudu (for training teachers in basic education; Afuze (for physical education) and Igueben (for secondary education and science teachers).
The rebuilding of the campus in Abudu has been completed and the school will admit new students in October.
• YOU went to court to stop prominent Benin Chiefs, Dr Odubu and Chief Ekhator from the board of NDDC. Why?
The governor has no power to stop the appointment of persons into boards of Federal Institutions.
• YOU refused to listen to the appeals of the Palace not to destroy Kabaka’s house after the young man apologised. Why?
Tony Kabaka’s house was sited on a land belonging to a public school. The house was also constructed without approvals from relevant government authorities. The agencies were carrying out their statutory function.
• YOU didn’t come to the aid of the market women in Benin City when the markets were gutted with fire. Why?
This accusation is being made by people suspected to be responsible for the market fires in the metropolis.
Government is already engaging with the market women on the fire incidents and efforts are being made to attend to them to ensure all those affected are attended to appropriately.
• YOU didn’t redeem his 100 million Naira compensation promised to market women and victims of Ekiosa market fire incident. Why?
The State Government is in close contact with the leaders of the markets to audit the list submitted to access the relief fund. The engagement is to ensure that all those who were directly impacted by the fire incident are those who get the payouts.
• YOU didn’t pay bursaries to Edo students. Why?
The government didn’t stop any bursary programme as it never met one in place. Its spending on education have been channeled to creating the right foundation in the basic education sub-sector for youths to be well informed and prepared to make critical life decisions.
• YOU didn’t award Edo sons and daughters scholarship. Why?
The state government’s spending on education has favoured the weak and vulnerable members of the public. The focus on basic education is to ensure a strong foundation for youths to pursue their passions, whether in academics or different vocations.
• Edo line moribund under YOU. Why?
The Obaseki-led government didn’t meet a running business entity, as the Edo line was overweight by debts. But the government continues to manage the entity under receivership.
• Edo breweries shutdown permanently under YOU. Why?
The Government didn’t meet a functional Edo breweries as well. It however continues to manage the entity under receivership.
AND YOU WANT TO BE RE-ELECTED AND OPENED EDO STATE TREASURY TO TAX COLLECTORS IN PDP. WHY?
Governor Godwin Obaseki will be re-elected at the September 19 guber polls and win convincingly. Edo people know those who are gunning for the state’s treasury and will resist them by delivering the government with the highest margin of victory at the polls.
I am against the TRAITOR, BETRAYAL and UNDERTAKER on PRINCIPLE.
Obaseki has stood by Edo people since he assumed office. Anyone who talks about him betraying them on principle, obviously has no principles to start with in the first place.
Edafe Oghenebrume forgot to add the engineering of the removal of an Edo son from been the APC chairman.
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole lost his job as National Chairman of the APC on account of his personal indiscretions. His fate is only a consequence of his actions.
