Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki is one year old in office. Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR examines the achievements, constraints and prospects of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the Southsouth state.
Governor Obaseki came to power November last year with lots of promises. It was a smooth transition from one All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to another. As the preferred choice of his predecessor, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Obaseki enjoyed enormous support from the immediate past administration. The campaign slogan for the APC and Obaseki was :’vote for continuity’.
Obaseki promised that his adminisration would no fewer than 200,000 jobs during his inauguration. He said a model will be put in place to reposition agriculture from being subsistent farming to commercial agriculture.
He said agriculture is a money spinning vocation, noting that cash crops and domestic farm produce like oil palm, cassava, cocoa, grains, rubber, fruits and vegetables would be accorded importance. Other sectors through which Obaseki hoped to create the targeted jobs include entrepreneurship schemes. He promised to attract investments for the development of industries, as well as technical and vocational skills.
Obaseki promised good governance through infrastructure, investments, enforcement of law and order. He assured the people of increased production capacity, socio-cultural development, provision of medium and small scale enterprises.
Governor Obaseki’s action in the past one year has demonstrated that he knew where he wants the state to be in the next 10 years. He was among the team that drew the Edo Project plan for Oshiomhole’s administration even before the tribunal delivered judgment that kicked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of power.
He said: “Eight years ago, we began our critical engagement with The Edo Project. It was clear where we wanted to be in the index of functional states in Nigeria. In spite of the myriads of challenges, we succeeded in building a strong foundation for the take-off of the state. Now is the time to build on that foundation. In three years time, we want Edo to be the most prosperous economy in the Southsouth. In seven to 10 years, we will be the number one economy in Nigeria. In 15 to 20 years, we want to be the number one investment destination in Africa.”
Obaseki has identified institutional reforms, economic development, environmental sustainability, social welfare, arts culture and tourism as the six priority areas his administration would focus on, to channel development and economic initiatives.
Within the first six months of his administration, several strategic dialogue workshops were held on the six priority areas and workable plans were drawn on how to achieve the plans. To show his seriousness about implementing the reports from the workshops, Obaseki gave a copy of the strategic dialogue to his commissioners for their perusal. The purpose was for it to serve as policy guide for the commissioners on the steps and vision of Governor Obaseki.
His popularity is hinged on the method he adopted in projects execution, response to issues and dealing with powerful individuals in the state, including his supporters and members of the APC.
The governor had been described as a man of few words; Obaseki and his aides do not flaunt his achievements.
To prune down the cost of governance, Obaseki reduced state ministries from 24 to 18 and have about 460 political appointees. Many said his actions are not befitting the status of a governor, as he goes about with a convoy of three cars without sirens. Beside, he still uses the vehicles left by his predecessor. He has put in place methods to reduce waste and reckless spending.
In the past one year, the Obaseki administration has embarked on building infrastructure. As part of institutional reforms, the physical environment has been uplifted. The new court building is expected to have 12 court rooms equipped with modern equipment that would record all court proceedings without judges taking down notes. The Block C secretariat building that was abandoned 42 years ago is being rebuilt, while renovation work is ongoing at the Civil Service Commission complex.
A 75-seater fully computerised hall for training of civil servants is being built. The purpose for building the training hall, according to Obaseki was because “We cannot talk about development, if we do not have people who understand what to do to drive the development.”
Obaseki said he constructed over 250 kilometres of roads and awarded another 100 kilometres. Many internal roads that were impassable for many years are being constructed.
On ensuring law and order in the state, Obaseki signed into law the bill banning activities of Community Development Association (CDA) and subsequently inaugurated the Private Property Protection (PPP) Committee headed by Mr. Solomon Arase. This had brought peace to many communities and land developers.
Street trading and hawking in unauthorised places have been banned and those caught are made to pay fine or sent to prison custody after being tried at a mobile court. Heavy vehicular traffic that were usually experienced on major roads due to street trading have disappeared. Commercial drivers now park at designated places to avoid being arrested and prosecuted.
Reforms have been carried out in the area of local government administration. The 18 local governments in the state that could hardly generate N10m as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) made N115m in the month of October. This was because Obaseki banned the use of private tax collectors in collecting revenue. Staff of local government now collect revenue through electronic ticketing.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Jimoh Ijegbai, said the administration was working on a clear direction, on the goals for local governments in the state. Ijegbai stated that the goal is to ensure that local governments in the state do not depend on Federal Government allocations to pay salaries as well as have the ability to execute projects. He said monthly pension payment for local government retirees has been increased to N244m.
In the health sector, the five star Benin Central hospital that was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari last year is yet to admit any patient. Obaseki said he is searching for private firm that will run the hospital because the state lacks the ability to run the place.
Obaseki’s focus is, however, on primary health care and domesticating the National Health Insurance Scheme. He has set-up a committee to look at ways at remodelling all the primary health centres and make them functional.
On assumption of duty, he made it clear that he would separate governance from politics. He noted that government house was not a bank or a place to settle party issues. Political appointees were nominated from the wards to the local government level. As a way of boosting finances of the party, Obaseki made it mandatory for political appointees to pay certain percentages from their salaries to the party coffers. He ensured party discipline through the removal of some party executives in Oredo and other parts of the state, including the APC Youth Leader, Osakpamwan Eriyo.
Speaking at a forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel in July, Obaseki said his administration has created 29,000 jobs and that his target is to create 50,000 jobs by the time he would be marking his one year in office. The Auchi Fertilizer Plant has been revived through a partnership with the Federal Government Initiative on Fertiliser.
His critics described him as “Governor I will partner with you or I plan to do” said he talks as if he were still campaigning. They cited his recent thank you tours to local government areas in the state where they said all his statements were still promises without pointing to what has been done or being done in each locality.
The critics condemned that the lack of concern for some projects like the Storm Water Project, Igbinaduwa road, Erediauwa road off Sapele road started by Oshiomhole but, yet to be continued by Obaseki.
A tricylist operator who gave his name as Efe said some inner roads constructed under Obaseki were not up to the standard set by Oshiomhole. He said: “You see Oshiomhole putting walkway, solid gutter and street lights. Oshiomhole even demolished buildings or fences. But what we are seeing now are just tiny roads and small gutters under Obaseki.”
A commercial bus driver, Lucky said his colleagues have been sent to prison or made to pay heavy fines for either flouting traffic rules or for irregular parking.
To members of the APC, Obaseki’s insensitivity to the issue of ‘stomach infrastructure’ is a cause for concern. Chairman of the APC in Oredo Local Government, Godwin Alabi, who spoke on behalf of other members said provision of ‘stomach infrastructure’ for party members was part of Obaseki’s campaign promises.
Alabi said: “I want to thank the governor for all that he has been doing. But, one thing I will not forget to talk about is stomach infrastructure for members.
“This is part of your electioneering promises to the members of the party. I know with your able lieutenants and advisers that will be a thing of the past. Sir, I only tell you as a reminder.”
A chieftain of the APC, Charles Idahosa, said party leaders are happy with Obaseki, but that they also “want sanity in stomach as there is sanity everywhere.”
PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, said Obaseki has not lived up to his campaign promises. He said: “All what we are seeing are self glorification. His talks are still on promises and in campaign mood. He is still making promises. There is nothing concrete to what the governor is saying.
“Security situation in the state has worsened under him, because he refused to disburse security votes. Pensioners have not been paid and they are still made to suffer. There is no project to commission after one year and his administration is nothing to write home about. This government is a disaster in its first year.”
Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Mr. Odion Olaye, said it was commendable for Obaseki to ask for loan to buy more buses for the Edo City Transport Services fleet. Olaye said the inner roads within and outside Benin City that have been constructed have eased transport flow. He said the union was happy and ready with Obaseki intervention in the transport sector.
Chairman of Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Daniel Oghogho Eboigbe, said the body has not benefitted anything from the state government under Obaseki. He called on the governor to establish a body to buy agricultural products that are surplus, noting it would reduce waste.
He said: “It is not impossible to have a egg powder factory in this state instead of allowing eggs to rotten away.”
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