Next Saturday, November 12, 2026, history will be made in Edo State as the Peoples Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole would have completed eight eventful years as governor of Edo State and would step down in a planned colourful ceremony and would be handing over the mantle of leadership of the state to a scion of his administration and chairman of Economic Team, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki as the Governor of the State.
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole touched all sectors of the state this past eight years. When he assumed office on November 12, 2008, the PDP elements in Edo state accused him of being too slow to hit the ground running, Just as President Muhammadu Buhari is currently being accused of being too slow to commence action in government. Oshiomhole was wrongly attacked by the opposition PDP that he was ‘planting flowers in ring road.’ Some said he was talking too much. It was not long into his first one year of his administration that the Comrade stopped talking and bulldozers and caterpillars started speaking for him spontaneously all over the three senatorial districts of the state.
Before long, the urban renewal project had gone underway cutting across all the 18 Local Government Areas of the State showing massive modern road networks with all the latest walkways , drainages, street lights, and flower lawns. Massive drainage projects– the Benin Water Storm, Queen Ede gully erosion reclamation project, Auchi erosion control project of the Oshiomhole-led administration has helped to control flood and erosion menace that was almost going to submerge the city of Benin City and Auchi prior to his coming on board. But for the Benin Water Storm project and other drainages embarked upon by the present administration, perhaps Benin city would have been swallowed up by floods as the PDP administration in the state never cared. Where would people living around five junction or Tomline would have been by now?
In addition, the environmental sanitation situation has been energised and made quite functional. The street cleaning and maintenance programme has also provided employment for thousands of Edo people. The Five Junction in Benin which is now a beautiful sight to behold used to be a den of armed robbers and car snatchers. It is now a modern ring road, well asphalted with massive underground drainage, walk ways and street lights. Almost ten roads in the neighbourhood have been reconstructed to add to the beauty of the area. The people living in Isonoro axis of Benin would also not forget how Oshiomhole touched their lives reclaiming a vast area threatened by devastating erosion and turned dumpsite. The area was reconstructed and over ten streets reclaimed with new roads, walkways, street lights and now renamed Gani Fawehim layout. What about the people of Upper Siluko by Teachers House or Second East circular road in Benin? To them, Oshiomhole remains a hero.
Water has been roundly provided for Edo people. Edo North and Central which used to experience guinea worm outbreak as a result of citizens relying on unwholesome sources of water now have water flowing from modern boreholes fixed by the Edo State Government under Oshiomhole’s leadership. This has drastically reduced water borne diseases which use to be prevalent in Edo North and Central.
Realising that education is one of the biggest industry of Edo people and that it provides the foundation for the development of any society, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole undertook a major educational revolution in the state code named “the red roof revolution” as a cardinal objective of his administration. The red roof revolution must be sustained by Oshiomhole successor. Besides the massive reconstruction and renovation of public primary and secondary schools across the state, they have been equipped with modern instructional materials and equipment. Qualified Teachers are being hired to boost teaching and learning and give private school proprietors a run for their money. The educational system is being sanitised in a way that it would compare to international standards. The red roof revolution would remain indelible in the hearts of Edo people.
Even the tertiary institutions are getting bigger and better deal than it used to be. The subventions to the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Chief Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor and the subventions to the College of Education, Igueben and Michael Imoudu College of Physical and Health Education, Afuze have been consciously jerked up while the Institute of Management and Technology , Usen as well as College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi have been upgraded and their courses accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). A new University, was established in Iyamho and has since commenced academic work as more efforts are on to keep education at pace with what obtains in developed societies. Edo people expects Mr. Godwin Obaseki to ensure that these universities are well established and made to function optimally.
The Health sector has witnessed massive transformation this past eight years. Hospitals are being upgraded across the state. The Central Hospital along Sapele Road in Benin City is home to multi-million Naira five-star hospital, which compares to any modern hospital, anywhere in the world. It targets bringing an end to Edo people travel overseas for medical treatment. Oshiomhole had assured that the project will be completed this year, 2016 before the handover date and it has come to pass today. Edo people expect Mr. Obaseki to replicate the same quality of hospital in the other two senatorial districts of the State.
Without mincing words, the Oshiomhole Government performed creditably to support security agencies to combat crime and other vices in the state. It supported the Nigeria Police Force, Army, Air force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp as well as Neighborhood Watch and vigilante groups massively to discharge their duties of protection of lives and property of Edo people. Under the watch of Oshiomole, crime has been greatly reduced in Edo State.
Also, Civil Servants in Edo had the best of times with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. As he steps down on Saturday, he did not owe workers any salary even in the face of economic recession. He even increased the state’s minimum wage to N25,000. All these happened even when 27 states of the federation, could not pay salaries of workers, including oil producing states of the Niger Delta. This is even the more reason why workers should be celebrating that Mr. Obaseki is the one succeeding Oshiomhole. He is sure going to continue this feat going forward.
With all of these lofty accomplishments and monumental achievements, Edo people would forever remain grateful to Oshiomhole for his self-less services to the state even in the face of threats of the fallen godfathers. Edo people are sure to remember Oshiomhole as one governor who performed excellently well and has written his name in gold and in the sands of time. We know that if our constitution allowed third or even fourth term , Oshiomhole would have been called upon to serve up to the fourth. As he takes his bow on Saturday, one can only wish him fare well, God’s abundant blessings and success in his future endeavours. With his very tall credentials in good governance, we are confident that President Muhammadu Buhari will find him worthy to serve this nation in a much higher capacity.
We are succoured with Oshiomhole’s efforts and leadership he provided at the last Governorship election which produced Mr. Godwin Obaseki. As he takes over from Oshiomhole on Saturday, Edo people are glad, not only that there would be continuity of developmental efforts, but because even Oshiomhole himself assured Edo people that Godwin Oaseki would surpass his achievements. This is cherry and quite re-assuring. We wholeheartedly welcome Mr. Godwin Obaseki to the saddle and wish him well in office.
Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.
