It is with great pleasure and humility I want to welcome our esteemed brothers and sisters from around the world to Edo state, the cradle of black civilization, home of cultural renaissance and hub for Investment in the nation.
For our friends and relations who have decided to live abroad, all this while making waves in their chosen careers and endeavors your patriotism for your motherland is not in doubt because your decisions to sojourn abroad became inevitable when the nation’s social economic and political stability in the past was hazy and not too friendly for comfort.
Then and probably now in some respects, especially with the insecurity in the nation, the world continue to hold the view that Nigeria is too rich for its people to be poor and trapped in its peculiar agonies of rat race existence. An African legend, Bob Marley once sang: ‘In the abundance of water the fool is thirsty.’
It may not be wrong to arrive at that conclusion though, when in the midst of hunger in the land, some persons can publicly flaunt the purchase of a car bought with over two hundred million naira and in the words of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki some Nigerians are richer than Nigeria.
The plethora of affluence displayed by some persons, the clergy, Politicians in the corridors of power, either at the local government councils, the state and federal government and other government establishments has no doubt given the nation a bad image internationally.
The recklessness of some opportune persons who stole government money and their nonchalant attitude to the plight of majority of Nigerians who work hard to earn their living has become very worrisome lately.
But thank God for you guys in Diaspora who were able to see the bleak future of the nation ahead several years ago and you took the bold step to seek greener pastures abroad and some of you are reaping from the fruits of that singular act today.
It is apparent that some of the reasons why we are where we are today are the ineptitude of some of our leaders to make our democracy work as well as our inability to manage our God given resources.
However, we must know that to make our democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers, as one who does not vote or participate in the process of choosing who becomes a leader or does not contribute in any meaningful way how to change things for the good of all has no right to complain.
In the words of former United States of America President, Barrack Obama, ‘Our destiny is not written for us but by us. Africa does not need strong men but strong institutions.’ Therefore as a nation, or as a state, we need to build strong institutions that will be the agent of the change we desire.
As friends of Edo State in Diaspora, we definitely need your collaboration with our God sent Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to build those strong institutions that are prevalent in developed nations across the world. You are invited to partake in the building process of a state that will be the envy of other states in the country because according to the scriptures, leaders are from God and it is therefore incumbent on us all to pray for them and join them to succeed.
It is necessary for you in Diaspora with the requisite skills and connections to think of what you can do for the state rather than what the state can do for you at this stage. The state is fortunate today to have assets like you, as well as having a man who has the credentials of Mr. Obaseki at the helm of affairs.
In 2016, when Godwin Obaseki emerged as Governor, some of his aspiration is to develop a modern and progressive state where every citizen is empowered with opportunities to live life in its fullest, to make Edo an Economic hub and the next choice for investors both foreign and local as well as improve the ease of doing business
Today, we are not unaware of some of the numerous contacts made by the governor to some of you who have made fortunes through your hard work and ingenuity abroad and you have joined the transformation drive in the state.
The state, no doubt is blessed with people like you and it is not by mistake that you have been positioned for this onerous task for your mother land. The creator of all things, who knows the beginning and the end, knows that one day duty call will beckon on you for a time like this in Edo State.
One thing for sure we must know is that some things just do not happen, especially if God is involved. If you are privileged to join the good works of our able governor, it should be with a sincere motive and see yourself as a volunteer on a rescue mission. The State needs your expertise, your investments, and your advice not necessarily because you want to make more money, but because you want to make yourself available for service.
We are going to be very happy to see more of your contributions in the state especially in the area of providing jobs opportunity for the people through the industries that will be created across the state and in other sectors of the economy.
That is why the governor has created the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and any distractions from any quarters should be resisted. It is our earnest expectation that just as you have made your impact felt in other places, we want to be beneficiaries here also in Edo state.
You may not necessarily be from Edo State, but the good news is that the administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki has provided the enabling environment for you to thrive with your investments.
