BENIN CITY – The criticisms and opposition against the second term bid of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State come 2020, have been described as unfair, unjustifiable and misplaced.
A Development Economist and Former Director of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), Dr. John Abhuere disclosed this in a recent chat with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin City.
Dr. Abhuere, who is currently the Director-General, Centre for Child Care and Youth Development, Abuja stressed that the developmental strides of Governor Obaseki within a space of about three years coupled with his foray in infrastructure, road rehabilitation and construction, his achievements in both health and education sectors were such that all stakeholders in Edo projects should encourage him to continue.
While noting that the Governor’s challenge with a few leaders of his political party which bothered on sharing state funds meant for development was condemnable, he declared that the era of sharing state funds with politicians to run a state aground were over, adding that Governor Obaseki’s stance on using state funds for meaningful social-economic and infrastructural development of the state has endeared him to the people of Edo State.
Dr. Abhuere explained that as an Edo man who understands the peculiarity of Edo politics, he was quite optimistic that the brand of treatment meted out to former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode will not work in Edo State given the wide-spread support and cooperation enjoyed by Governor Obaseki from a greater percentage of Edo people.
He advised politicians to be altruistic and think of the greater good of the society rather than their selfish motives in order to move the state forward, noting that Edo State needs to regain its premier position in the comity of states in the federation under a performing Governor as astute as Governor Godwin Obaseki.
On the alarm raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo about the current administration’s plans to Islamic Nigeria through the activities of Fulani herdsmen, Dr. Abhuere said the statement needs to be investigated seriously by Nigerians, given Obasanjo’s standing in society.
According to the former NYSC Director, as a statesman, Obasanjo has access to a lot of information which ordinary Nigerians are not privy to, and so, Nigerians should not despise the former President whom he said, may have been speaking from a position of authority.
He, however, charged the present administration of President Buhari to do all within its powers to reduce the killings and annihilation strategy orchestrated by Fulani herdsmen in the shortest possible time and to prove Obasanjo wrong on the Islamisation agenda of his administration.
