By John Mayaki
The message came late and seems to have bridged the limit and time frame of campaigns – I’m not interested in that yet. What is most important and germane for me just now is the content and message of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s address to Edo residence which was published on social media on the early hours of 24th of February 2023. Its less than 24hrs to the 2023 general elections when the Governor doubled down his campaign for the candidate of his party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa not minding the consequences for violating the provision of the electoral Act – let the authorities deal with that if there are truly strong institutions.
Whereas, the Governor’s aides and members of the PDP are busy sharing the campaign materials in support of their presidential candidate in flagrant violation of the Electoral Act. To be certain, Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that a person, print or electronic medium that broadcasts, publishes, advertises or circulates any material for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate over the radio, television, newspaper, magazine, handbills, or any print or electronic media whatsoever called within 24 hours immediately preceding or on polling day commits an offence under the Act. We have evidence and witnesses that the PDP and agents of Governor Godwin Obaseki are already in violation of this Act and we shall press for charges in due course.
Most importantly for me therefore is the lies and blackmail the Governor deployed to sell his candidate and to also excuse his failure for over 6 years in government. Whereas, the Governor claimed to have dedicated himself to the service of Edo state since 2016 in paragraph three of his campaign speech but Nigerians are very much aware that he was merely cajoling the gullible. It is well documented and well reported in the media how the governor engaged himself in several unnecessary battles with either his party members or the opposition in the state.
It’s important to refresh our minds here – I do not intent to bore my readers with lengthy episodes today but simply to state the obvious because journalism is history in a hurry. First, the governor, upon assumption of office engaged his predecessor in a duel, fought his party members elected to represent the people at the State House of Assembly and ultimately, the party that installed him and therefore deviating from the purpose for which he was elected – his first term performance in office is abysmal, the records are there.
In his second term in office, Mr. Godwin upon seeking for excuses for his non-performance also engaged his new party, the PDP in a political battle that’s still raging. He engaged those PDP governors who aided him into office, and courted troubles even from federal agencies – so, where’s the dedication the governor claimed in his belated campaigns? This is the same man who got elected into office because of the goodwill of his predecessor but he has since frittered away all the goodwill by engaging on unnecessary strives and personal battles.
In terms of infrastructure, and still in paragraph three, the governor has always blamed heavy rains as reason for the perpetual delays in the construction of roads he flagged off over six years ago. When in 2017, he succeeded in constructing one kilometer concrete road on Nevis street, the governor boasted saying, “about 45 roads that have been awarded for construction and reconstruction would be done solely with the use of concrete”. I challenge Mr. Governor to conduct journalists round such concrete roads across the state even when he claimed that they are cheaper and durable compare to asphalt. Again, the records are there!
Mr. Governor sir, you cannot claim ignorance that the roads you claimed to have tarred have all been washed off – mere pouring of some black looking substances on graded earth road and then claim money for road construction. In his effort to lay blame on the federal government, the governor mentioned some federal roads in bad shape and urged voters to vote PDP, to enable his candidate construct the roads – the question to ask Governor Obaseki is this, who owns Airport Road between the state and the federal government? Who owns Akpakpava Road? Who owns Dawnson/Ugbowo Road? Are all these not federal government roads but were constructed by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole? Why is Governor Obaseki behaving as if he’s the first and last governor we would be having in Edo state?
To further understand the deceitfulness of the governor, ask him if the federal government refunded billions of Naira to Edo state under his watch for federal roads constructed under the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole? Who collected the money without complaints? Godwin. Who’s lamenting federal roads in the state? Godwin. Who has the mandate to make life meaningful for the people of Edo state? Godwin. Who stopped NDDC from constructing roads in the state without obtaining permission from him? Godwin. Who is that intolerant man who walked out BEDC officials out of his office? Godwin. Who stopped federal agencies from executing constituency projects in the state? Godwin. Again, who’s complaining and lamenting against the federal government? Godwin. Is that not deceitful and mischievous?
Let’s leave that and let’s take a look at his claims on education, the so much trumpeted EdoBest without teachers in the schools. Visit any school in Edo state especially outside Benin city and see for yourself how dilapidated our schools have become and without teachers. For the governor, reforms is all about refurbishing three classroom block in Benin Technical College with the support of some foreign government or concocting some flowery words into a document called ‘blueprint’ and the launching of same that translate to reforms. Or the sacking of workers with The Nigerian Observer newspaper and renaming the structure that has become ‘reforms’ for the governor.
Today, The Nigerian Observer Neespaper is no more in the news stand but the governor claims he has carried out reforms. Today, the water fountain at the city centre is no more. Today, for a reform to take place in Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s Edo, you must retire the students home, demolish the facility and commence reconstruction three years after – The Godwin’s model of reforms. The man who wants Nigerians to vote for his candidates who cannot keep his words and show reasons why he should be taken seriously.
He claims, “EdoJobs has created over 200,000 jobs in agriculture, production, technology and entertainment”, in his own Edo state. Am not sure it is the same Edo State we know and that we live in the Governor is taking about. Ask Mr. Governor how many of these 200,000 workers are on his tax net? Is the governor aware that most of the people earning salaries in his government have all relocated abroad? Am waiting for a reaction on this to enable me reveal the details of those covering up for them while receiving salaries for job not done. Yet, Godwin sits in his office claiming to be Governor of Edo state even when workers in Ambrose Alli University are protesting none payment of 6 months salaries – is that not part of his achievement?
And again, let’s be clear, Azura Edo power plant came into the state during the tenure of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and not under the administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki. It is deceitful to keep laying claims to it. Anyways, we are waiting for our cities to be connected – Governance must move away from Benin metropolis to other senatorial district Mr. Governor.
In paragraph 6, the Governor touched on his intervention in the area of Oil Palm Programme and domestic companies who have acquired vast expanse of land for farming – please let’s be patient, time will tell who actually bought those land for non-existing farms – soldier come, soldier go, barrack remains. All the plots of land the governor forcefully cornered to himself and his cronies would be addressed at the appropriate time. It’s question of time.
Besides, one is tempted to ask: why is the governor not proud of his achievements with Sobe farms and the raising of his new generation of farmers? Can the governor tell Edo people how much was involved in that project? Who are the beneficiaries? Is the farm still in existence? Any progress report? Is it true someone refunded some huge sums of money he was gifted after he allegedly fell out with the Governor? What about the huge sums of money from the CBN for rice farming? Anything still happening at Illushin? Obaseki once visited Amahor where he made mouthwatering promises, can someone remind and advise the governor to keep his words?
For Mr. Godwin Obaseki, development is all about new malls in the city centre – he raised this issue in paragraph 7 of his campaign material this morning. And in paragraph 8, the issue of security but he lacked the temerity and sincerity to commend the Esan people for raising money to fund its own security outfit known as “Atanakpa”. Several communities in the state have had to set up their own security outfits and solely funded by them but Mr. Governor wouldn’t reference all these personal efforts – yet, he pockets billions of
Naira on a monthly basis under the subhead of security vote. Even the ‘bikes’ government gave out recently was donated by a private citizen but the Obaseki administration took credit for it. Again, am waiting for a counter claim from the government to reveal further details.
But the Governor is a great man – I must give it to him especially in the art of deceitfulness. The same man who encouraged the Federal Givernment and the CBN to continue its ‘scorched earth’ monetary policy against the people is the same man complaining about the economic policies of the Federal Government. According to the governor, “I have complained about it and have created inflation and hardship for our people”, in its 9th paragraph. The same man who went to the Supreme Court to urge it to insist that the hardship brought upon Nigerians was the right policy. Is that not a great man?
Am however glad Mr. Governor opened up and couldn’t hide behind his finger in his paragraph 13 when he said, Atiku has “assured me of his support on the delivery of the Benin port and Benin Enterprise Park projects….help fast track their delivery in good time. Also, to be able to fully complete other lofty projects we have started in the state”. What this means – connotative and denotative is that, “I cannot deliver on these projects, if Atiku is not the president of Nigeria”. Godwin Obaseki N’ Oga! So, what happened to all the money that was spent pursuing these white-elephant projects? Mr. Gelegele Seaport!
So, with fanfare, he got the Vice President of the ruling party, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for the groundbreaking ceremony knowing fully well that he does not have the capacity to deliver on the project but today, he now found an excuse why the project has become a white-elephant project because he’s an opposition governor. He now needs a PDP president to actualize a dream that was ill-conceived and shabbily packaged while in the APC. Again, is that not a great man? The man who’s never in want of excuses for his failure is a great man!
In paragraph 16, the governor campaigned saying, “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the only Presidential candidate in this election that has openly taken a position on the issue of devolution of power to the constituent parts of Nigeria….will cede more resources to the states and local councils, which will consequently increase the flow of funds to Edo to enable us continue to work for the people and improve their lives”. The great man who has refused to see the need to conduct local government elections is the same person parroting devolution of power. This is the same great man who usurped the powers of the state House of Assembly and pocketed the members by quartering them in Government House – the man with so much scant and disregard for the rule of law wants us to believe his advocacy for devolution of power. He must be a great man!
Governor Godwin Obaseki is a Christain, although am not certain the Church he attends, if any. His Deputy, Philip Shaibu is a known communicant – a devout Catholic who fights inside the Church as seen in a recent video that emerged. It’s a Christian-Christian ticket – same faith ticket but Mr. Godwin has sworn with his hands raised to heavens never to vote for same faith ticket; the one he currently enjoys. I told you he’s a great man, is he not?
He wants us to vote Atiku because according to him, “the Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, is very close to us in Edo. Aside from being the Governor of Delta State – our sister State from the Bendel family – he attended Edo College in Benin City and has maternal parentage from Orhionmwon Local Government Area”. What do you call that? Prebendalism? Cronyism? Nepotism? He’s my brother, vote for him sort of campaign. He’s from my village, vote for him. He’s my friend, let’s support him not minding if he’s got the requisite capacity and competence for the job. That’s the doctrine according to Godwin the Great man! You can now understand how he runs his government and the values and factors that shapes his decisions.
In all, tell Mr. Governor to relax – nature will take its course. Nigerians will decide not minding his eleventh-hour campaigns. While still queuing at the bank struggling to see if I can get some transport fare to my village, I received information that some unknown faces have taken over the hotels in the community. Some say they are boys clutching laptops from the ICT department of the state government while the identity of others are yet unknown. Well, if am unable to get transport fare to my village, it simply means that I have been disenfranchised by the policy Governor Godwin Obaseki is co-championing.
