Godwin Obaseki Formally Declares Guber Ambition … Offers To Serve Without Pay

By Oladipo Airenakho

Seasoned investment guru and former member of Nigeria’s Presidential Committee on the reorganization of the country’s pension scheme, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, has formally declared his intention to aspire for the governorship seat of Edo State.

He made the declaration before a mammoth crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, friends, political and professional colleagues, including newly installed speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie at Urhokpota Hall in Benin City on Friday.

Obaseki said he hoped to develop a resilient and world class economy for Edo State with power, housing, internal reformation, education and ICT as the bedrock of his campaign.

The aspirant who is also the Chairman of Edo State Economic and Strategic Team said he recognized the enormity of the economic challenge facing the state and is therefore offering himself to serve the people without asking for any salary and compensation in return.

His vantage position as the chairman of Edo State Economic and Strategic Team, he said, has afforded him the opportunity to realize that the state needs an executive leader who understands the economic situation.

With discipline, he continued, the economic situation of the State has improved under the stewardship of Governor Adams Oshiomhole so much the State is able to pay salaries, pensioners and also meet its obligations to its contractors.

Fresh massive investments of over $2 billion in various sectors of the State economy have also meant that the State is geared to create more jobs and employments for the unemployed, he noted.

Obaseki who praised the efforts of Governor Adams Oshiomhole at turning around the economic situation of the State said it was imperative that fresh and new ideas were injected into the economic programme of the state.

He pointed out that there was a lot more work to do and that ‘Edo project’ “is a work in progress” and there was need for someone like him with the experience to continue the good work started by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Over 7 years in the saddle with the governor, he said, has given him that experience and insight into how to deal with the challenging economic problems of the State.
Sources close to the state government told Alltimepost.com that Obaseki’s governorship ambition declaration was to take place on Friday April 29, 2016, but was shelved because of the impending announcement of the passing of the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa.