Benin - Mediaage NG News – Edo born media activist, Apostle Alfred Uyinosa has described Governor Godwin Obaseki as a builder of wasted lands, “lands that nobody thought anything good will come out from”.
He also said Governor Obaseki’s achievements so far, are beyond the understanding of few of the state’s residents who have been allowed to be misled by those that want to discredit the works of the governor. While enlisting many of the projects and strides made by the governor in the interest of the state and its future, he said Obaseki has achieved more than the leaders that have led the state.
“His works can’t be compared with other governors that have led the state previously. Currently, he is the only governor that has visited projects initiated by his predecessors and he’s the only governor that has increased minimum wage and is paying, Apostle Uyinosa said while speaking with the press on Tuesday.
“Under his administration, the state is currently operating an insurance scheme system, the Edo State Insurance Scheme, he said.
He said presently, the state under the lead of the governor, has two modular refineries which are already refining crude oil and agricultural produce called ethanol made in the state.
As the only governor to have been able to attract this to the state, he said it has opened the state once known as a civil service state, for massive industrialisation and a producing state with several industries on ground.
He cited Primary Healthcare Centres across the state which are one of the best in the country, are working through the State Insurance Commission. “At least, about forty thousand poorest of the poor are benefiting from it and they don’t pay for it but, the government foots the bill”, he said.
Currently, Edo is the only state right now that is operating e-governance system.
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Talking about road infrastructure, he said Governor Obaseki is the only governor that has created interlinked roads than any previous governor in the state, while also building infrastructure like the College of Agriculture from the scratch, with world class library and laboratory facilities.
“The governor has done so well in all sectors without making noise. He does not always commission projects because he believes in action. Maybe, that’s the reason few are not seeing the things he has done. Nigerians seem to like people that make noise, that want to be noticed and applauded, he said.
“I can tell you for free that the governor has done a great job by restoring the lost glory of Edo State. In fact, he’s the builder of wasted lands. That’s one of the things that make him unique.
Road map or blue print is something that most leadership in the country has struggled with but, he gave credit to Govenor Obaseki for been able to come out with a road map for the state, as its leader. “He’s doing what I call Fiber Optic across the eighteen local governments, with free internet facilities”, Apostle Uyinosa listed.
“The governor has built a Labour House, the first governor that has done that for the state and hopefully, by next month, it will be commissioned.
“Also, the Oshiomo (an electricity company) that he brought, generates electricity supply to places that include government offices, big companies and even some homes have began connecting to it.
“Previously, Edo State does not have a mall but he has built one and hopefully too, it will be commissioned by December, according to plan.
On the provision of affordable housing
He said the state has the EMOTAN Garden, a home for the Edo people, including civil servants who are to pay and move in. “He’s working on the area of affordable housing to ensure that the state is open for more investors to come and build different estates.
“We also have Coral City and the idea of these housing projects is to decongest the city for other settlements like the New Benin. It’s already in plans.
“He has already developed a thrity year plan, rarely done. Even Nigeria as a country, does not have a blueprint. But, the governor has been able to pass a law for a thirty-year plan. Whoever comes into power after the elapse of the governor’s administration, will continue with it.
“There is a free transportation scheme on ground, conveying people to various destinations for free and plans are also underway to bring in new vehicles. He has ordered for CNG and we are expecting them before the end of next month.
He said the Governor Obaseki is building a New Civil Service Club, coupled with the Agric Hub on ground already, added to all government abandoned projects which are under rehabilitation presently across the state.
In the area of sports, he said the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is now recognised by FIFA as standard. Previously, according to him, there was no roofing on the stands. It was just an open roof. The good facilities provided by the governor in the stadium were those used by World Champion, Tobi Amusan before she rose to stardom and winning the World Athletics Championships.
He cited Bendel Insurance Football Club that has been restored to its glory days, having suffered and endured life at the lower ranks of the Nigerian football league. “Anything that has to do with sports, he’s revived them all – the table tennis, lawn tennis, Apostle Uyinosa said.
“Even participants from the state are all doing well at national and international competitions”.
“In terms of education, we have the Edo Best that the Lagos State government imitated and used for their state”, he said.
The Edo Best is a scheme that ensures no child is left behind. This has enabled children that don’t know how to read or write to do so capably. There’s a system he said has been developed that helps the teacher to know when a student has logged and aware when a child is in school or not.
In terms of security, he said Edo State is one of the safest. “We have the Edo State Security Network and the governor has also ensured the empowering of local vigilante registered with the Nigerian Police, DSS, SSS. They have been profiled as a serious neighbourhood watch that has made us to be enjoying peace in the state. Go and verify, he stated.
“In fact, the governor just built a forward base for the Nigerian army at Ihior. Remember when kidnapping was so rampant in Edo State? The governor ensured that a forward base is built for the Army to ensure that they deal with the issue of insecurity”, Apostle Uyinosa concluded.