BY: EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY, BENIN
Before the electoral victory in 2007 of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and eventual inauguration as Governor of Edo State, on November 12, 2008
the Edo challenges was peculiar, but then, abducted and held hostage with coven of political godfathers who privatized the public treasury, treated the people as slaves and spoke with the magisterial certainty of a tin gods.
Before long, the mandate of the people was defended through the court to retrieve their state mandates having won the elections credibly; hence, decreed and thereafter, came to pass and in clear terms, the people’s votes pitted against the then ruling People Democratic Party, (PDP), in Edo State.
That stirring feelings which makes thousands of Edo people readily join the practical procession of change saw the man of the moment Comrade Oshiomhole sworn in to pilot the affairs of the state.
On assumption of office in 2008, as democratically elected Governor, Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole made it abundantly clear that his administration was focused on making a great impact on the lives of the people of the state with a great demarcation from anything before.
In the light of this promises, it was not a sure-bet, rather a tuvy-tuv decision to believe by the stakeholders in the state as subsequent government had made series of un-kept promises and people had their own mind to doubt if any good thing could come from Bethlehem.
Evidently, Comrade Oshiomhole fondly called the Bastion and Citadel of transformation in aligns with the Edo people who provided him the right ambience not only to properly situate his developmental agendas for the people, but also, to prove beyond all odds, development, that was almost impossible in some areas is indeed, possible and today his signposts of his people-driven curriculum, are numerously scattered across length and breath of the entire state.
The administration of the amiable Comrade Governor in his quest to take Edo people through flight snags & hiccups was trusted to bring about needful project to better the life of the people he governs.
Today, the lion hearted comrade can beat his chest with absolute vehemence that surely the change has come and his vision accomplished to a large extent.
By and large, in our analysis and assessment, his administration has tackled and made some visible progress in various sectors under his watch, particularly in Education, Roads Construction and Maintenance, Health Sectors, Empowerment, Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Art, Culture and Tourism, Lands, Survey and Housing and many more.
However, as the clock gradually ticks and his tenure in the past seven and half years draw ever closer toward the end of the tunnel, the historic significant of his performance has draw applauds across the state and in general, the nation. We have thoughtfully streamlined how he has stared the governance of the people of Edo State with glimpses of his modest efforts in the direction of transformation.
On Education Sector, the government of Adams Oshiomhole has taken enormous steps to massively invest billions of Naira through a deliberate reconstruction, rehabilitation and re-equipping of a dilapidated and abandoned structures that looks like hovel fit only for pigs and reptiles habitations. But today, the face of Education in the state has changed considerably from the Old structure that beclouded the PDP government to the APC red roof buildings.
Away from Education, we have closely taking a look at some of the road network before the inception of Oshiomholes’ administration. Virtually, all the roads in the state were in deplorable condition and most impassably characterized by deep gullies, non-existent drins and serious flooding problems. Since inception of his administration, the face of our roads evidently has changed with walkways, double lanes, street lights, traffic lights, and well fitted drains to averts erosion challenges that has bedeviled the state.
In the Health Sector, the government has embarked on massive re-constructions of ultra-modern General Hospitals in the state capital, and in the 18 LGAs with clear cut emphasis on maternity wards to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. In this regards, I flurry of activities has been implemented in the health sectors that have driven the vision to free the citizens of Edo State from the heavy burden of communicable diseases, with a mindset of improving the quality of life thereby increasing the life expectancy of the people.
On transportation sector, it was a long way people went when they knew not where they where, and they were headed for doom; difficulties in driving on the street of Benin City because of chaotic traffic situation brought about by indiscriminate parking and complete disregards for traffic rules and regulations in the state.
But today, the story has changed, as we now have free flow of traffic on our roads with decongested King’s Square which has also been beautified with modern walkways flourishing flowers and ornamental plants.
This analysis maybe compacted due to space available but then, whether
you like it or not, hate it or not, our Bastion of change has improved lives and he should be unreservedly celebrated for breaking evens amidst cabals who probed the state treasury for the selfish interest, and for the first time after Brigadier Samuel Ogbemudia (Rtd) era as a genus, hero and a role model for his astute contributions to the then dying Edo as to the now holistically revived Edo of our generations.
