When the result
that brought the former governor to power was read, Comrade Governor came out
roaring it was obvious to every body that he was the winner of the election. As
a matter of fact it was easy for him to acclimatize to the system because
majority of the people of the state were already tired of the domineering
nature of the previous leaders of the state particularly when it was clear that
these leaders don’t have good vision for the people of the state.
During his electionary
campaign, Comrade Oshiomhole promised a lot to the people of the state and in
particular, he vowed to end the politics of godfatherism rampant in the state.
Because there was nothing on ground in the first six months of his
administration apart from the stoppage of illegal levies in the markets, people
were apprehensive. His opponents in the state were quick to describe him as a failure
and said that his attitude at that time meant that he was never prepared to
actualize his promises for the people. Some, among his opponents in a rally,
said the Governor had achieved nothing in his first year in office instead
embarked on the planting of flowers at Ring Road
However,
the Governor came to defend his action, explaining that the problems of the
state particularly in the areas of flood and erosion required proper planning
and that it would be suicidal to commence work on them without tackling the
problems holistically. He said he would not be rushed into taking decisions
that would lead him into doing a bad job. He insisted to be given enough time
to plan before rolling out bulldozers in the streets. Besides, he said that if
his challengers had planted flowers during their time as leaders in the state,
he would have used the funds for something else. Governor Adams Oshiomhole
lamented that the successive governments has ruined the state in the past ten
years they were in power.
However, there
is no doubt that as the Oshiomhole’s administration clocks about three years
now, Benin City that was once famed as an ancient city, has been modernized.
True to his words,
Governor
commenced dualization and construction of roads in all three senatorial
districts of the state shortly after the design
for the new city was released. The roads in the cities were equipped with
street lights, walkways and waste disposal centers. He also commenced the
electrification projects in communities that did not have electricity in the
three senatorial districts. And recently, he imported city buses popularly
known as Comrade City Bus. The truth of the matter is that the State has not
seen such a transformation since the second republic when Prof. Ambrose Alli
was governor.
Apart from the road projects he
embarked upon in the three senatorial district, he also commenced water
projects in Edo Central. The problem of water in the area had been an age long
thing and the Governor had to import water drilling machines and specifically
declared that they will commence in Uromi, home town of Chief Tony Anenih.
Oshiomhole has also exhibited so much passion and zeal in his efforts. Indeed,
there have been occasions when the Governor’s security operatives went in
search of the Governor. On those occasions, he drove himself out of Government
House to inspect projects to the chagrin of the security operatives. On those
occasions he would he would also use the opportunity to feel the pulse of the
people on different issues in markets and bars.
Recently, Governor Adams
Oshiomhole has declared that agriculture is a credible factor that can be used
to address unemployment and to transform the state. In his speech, the governor
said what has been causing delay in identifying this sector, was the rot in
civil service especially in the agricultural sector. But now he (The Governor)
is willing to address the inhumanity faced in that sector. This assurance was
given in the retreat which has as its theme “Sustaining reforms, Expletive from
a Development Partner” held in AGANE-BODE.
