‘‘It must be emphasized that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s knack for excellence, quality job delivery done to specification and completion of job on time has seen him several times visiting and monitoring ongoing projects within Benin City and across the three senatorial districts of Edo State’’- Quoted in Nowata’s book(2012):Conqueror of the godfathers[page 80]
Pebbles with Igbotako Nowinta
Edo State of Nigeria, where Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole wields political power could be said to be lucky in many dimensions. This assertion is true because the Comrade is trying assiduously to bring democratic dividends to the people.
Even in the midst of lean resources from the Federation Account and prudent management of resources (including brilliant tax drives of Chief Oseni Elam- led Edo State Internal Revenue Board), the state is surging forward to embark on money guzzling projects.
One of such is the Auchi Erosion Control project, which has been estimated to gulp about #5.7bn. The Comrade Governor, by tackling the menacing gully erosion that is threatening to swallow the Auchi community, has shown that he really cares.
Come to think of it! The Auchi erosion trouble has been begging for attention for some time now. It is on record that the Edo state government made several spirited attempt to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the problem, but nothing concrete came out of it.
It is hoped that this project will be completed in record time. Many residents in Edo state know about the deplorable situation of the Upper Siluko end of Benin City, where it is like moving to hell trying to navigate to and from Egor area of town.
The level of appalling agony and senseless ordeal which the people living in the Upper Siluko/Egor axis of town have been subjected to could only be imagined before Comrade Oshiomhole took caterpillars and bulldozers to the place.
The last time I visited the place work was going on progressively. In no distant time the absolute anguish being experienced by locals and motorists in the area will soon be a thing of the past.
The Queen Ede erosion gully in Benin City, that has sacked the Queen Ede Secondary School to a tight corner and rendered many homeowners homeless with terrible heartaches is presently being reclaimed by the Oshiomhole administration.
This eye sore is equally known to Edo State citizens because of its menacing presence in Ikpoba Hill area in Benin City.
The Edo state government equally cried out to the Federal Government on the Queen Ede erosion disaster without any success before Comrade Oshiomhole stepped in and took the bulls by the horns there.
The Edo Line Transport Company which has gone through turbulent times in recent years, got the attention of the Comrade Governor, when he ordered that the workers should start receiving their regular salaries from January 2015.
It will be recalled that Edo Line Transport Company went miserably and hopelessly dead and remained in limbo for many years.
It is to the credit of Comrade Oshiomhole that the company has been revived and many formerly stranded and hungry families are now drawing salaries from there .
For most of late last year Governor Oshiomhole commissioned various categories of roads spread across the state to crown the end of the year 2014 in style.
Personalities like General Muhammadu Buhari, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Raji Fashola and Senator Asiwaju Bola Tinubu etc., were guests of the Comrade Governor during those grand commissioning ceremonies.
Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers who have had some seemingly intractable issues with his administration were shocked to their marrows when he ordered the payment of money owed teachers in the state and began the implementation of other demands.
The Governor in November 2014 approved salaries of over 322 teachers from Ovia North East Local Government Area and10% salaries relativity increase.
The Second East Circular Road in the heart of Benin City that has been a critical nightmare to motorists and other users is presently being repaired/reconstructed, and the residents living in the area are excited and happy with the proactive action of the Comrade Governor.
The Uwasota/Uwelu road axis in Benin City which has constituted a serious concern to residents and motor/spare parts dealers is being considered for reconstruction, with the recent surprised visit to the area by Governor Oshiomhole.
The state Specialist Hospital that stood for many years untouched, dilapidated and forgotten by previous administrations is presently being rebuilt to meet up to the millennium standard.
The gigantic structure being handled daily by engineers is an eloquent testimony to the passionate pragmatic approach of Comrade Oshiomhole to the provision of democratic dividends to the people of Edo State.
One can go on and on, but because of space constraint here, I am eclipsing on the leadership prowess of the Comrade Governor.
Agreed without any qualms that no leader can be one hundred percent embraced or accepted by everybody in a given society no matter what the guy performs.
The spate of political activities presently in Edo State is such that many political dudes who had earlier decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are back to the fold of APC ;and many shameless, unfocused and wayward politicians are daily decamping from either the PDP and the APC.
It is a very sad development indeed, to state categorically that many politicians in Edo state, nay elsewhere in Nigeria are neither here nor there on the issue of integrity, dignity and ideology.
It is seething to see to see how politics is being played here in Edo state, especially within the ambit of the opposition PDP.
That is why I am still scoring Governor Adams Oshiomhole high in my political estimation of his activities since November 2008 when he was ushered to power tumultuously.
In the face of artificial tension, packaged lies and sordid imagination cum reckless accusation by spin doctors in Edo state, Oshiomhole’s example is commendable, because he is still standing erect and firm in his political mandatory disposition to the people of the state.
I don’t care a hoot if some people are saying that Comrade Oshiomhole is working because of March 28th and April 11th general elections. But if we want to be sincere and fair to ourselves ,the Governor has been working to clear the ocean of rot, decay and stagnation, which he met in November 2008.
In May 1999, the PDP desecrated the noble doctrines of democracy; the wellbeing of the people was abandoned; their voices never counted; sincerity and accountability were thrown to the gutter.
To be absolutely candid, events of the recent past in Edo state violated genuine spirit of governance, precipitated by glaring incompetent leadership signposted by PDP. That is why Governor Oshiomhole should be applauded even right now!
Nowinta wrote, ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE: CONQUEROR OF THE GODFATHERS.
