The Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki clocked two years in office on November 12 and his mid-term score card tells the story of a technocrat turned politician who has a burning zeal to affect lives of Edo people positively. From every indication, Governor Obaseki stands tall among his peers as his achievements in two years surpasses some governor’s four years or eight years in office. At this time every year is the Alaghodaro summit initiated by his administration to showcase his achievements in office and chart the course for new developments.

Following the disbandment of the notorious Community Development Associations (CDAs), a platform which unemployed youths in almost all the communities in the Kingdom used to perpetrate crime and criminality by the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare 11 Governor Godwin Obaseki gave it a government seal. The nefarious activities actually of the CDAs did huge disservice to Edo land as investors were terrorized and terrified by the youths with their endless demands for huge sums of money, failing which guns and machetes were freely used to chase potential investors away. Even private home developers were not spared. But Oba Ewuare 11 working in tandem with a progressive Governor Obaseki put paid to all that. They forged a positive alliance and today, belonging to such associations or groups is now a criminal offence punishable under the law in the state. This is now producing good fruits as investors are now safe to invest in the state. This has significantly contributed to the ease of doing business.

The Governor has made strident efforts to actualize the Gelegele Sea Port. The Gelegele Sea port is dear to our hearts in Edo State and we need the Federal Government backing to realise the all-important project. Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Oba Ewuare are championing the move which is appreciated by all Edo sons and daughters.
From the steps he has taken thus far, it is clear that he is determined to rebuild the Edo State civil service and improve on the capacity of the entire government workforce. As a prelude to achieving this target, a fully computerized staff training school has been built at the Government House. This is why, part of the fallout of the first alaghodaro summit. It led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United Nations training institute and the Edo State Government. The administration has equally made some giant strides in institutional reforms through the use of technology to boost revenue collection. Everyone knows that It only through this way that government revenues can be collected and accounted for.

Also, his administration has improved the road networks in the state. Within two years, the new APC administration has resurfaced, reconstructed and is still constructing over 1000km of roads across the state. So many roads within Benin City metropolis have either been maintained, resurface or reconstructed. Brand new road projects as advised in one of my articles when setting agenda for Obaseki to take traffic away from the city centre such as the Iriri-Aruogba through to Sapele road is being constructed and Setraco has been mobilised to site and work is in progress. Drainages have been completed on both sides of the road and asphalting has commenced. Contract for Ugbor- Amagba-Ogunmeyin road have been awarded. Same for Saint-Saviour and Evbotubu has been lined up for attention.

Within the first few months of his administration, over 12, 000 jobs were created by the Obaseki administration and at the last count, 77, 200 jobs out of the 200,000 jobs he promised during his electioneering campaign. Has been created by his administration. Edo now has a well-trained and humane Edo State Traffic Management Agency. Citizens are happy with the clearance of King Square, New Benin, Santana Market, Third East Circular by Sakponba Road and even Country Home Motel Road Junction by Sapele Road which had constituted hell for many road users in the state. In the same vein, the administration has commenced the reconstruction of various technical colleges, so that they can train qualified artisans who can be self-employed and provide services to others. The Governor has not hidden his desire of making Edo an Industrial hub. The ground-breaking ceremony of our multipurpose Benin Industrial Park at Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state was performed as part of events for the first Alaghodagho summit. These are no mean feats of achievements within two years.

The State Government also commenced the restructuring of the basic education sector with the Edo Basic Education Transformation programme (EDOBEST), which has successfully trained 7,000 digital teachers to change the narrative of basic education in the state. The State Government also set up the Edo Jobs to train youths to be self-reliant in their chosen fields.
It is no longer a secret that the governor is leading a labour-friendly government which should be sustained. This perhaps explains the convivial and harmonious relationship between government and organized labour in the state and why there had not been a single strike since the governor assumed office. A pointer to this is the fact that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has cleared 50 per cent of inherited salary arrears owed local government workers in the state. This is what took local government workers off the streets from protests.
Most welcomed is the assurance that came from the governor to the workers that whatever the negotiation team agrees to in Abuja, he would implement in Edo. That is, if the team settles for N30,000 minimum wage, Obaseki is willing and ready to implement it for Edo workers. This is quite reassuring, and all Edo workers should see the Governor as a big ally.

Since Obaseki came on board, we have been having monthly declaration of what comes to the state being jointly shared with the Local Government. There is a public disclosure of what comes in and how it is shared. This is very important for transparency and accountability. Beyond this, the Edo State Government became the first state in the South-South of Nigeria to sign on to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a global initiative which Nigeria signed onto in 2016 during the London anti-corruption summit attended by President Muhammadu Buhari. Edo became the 9th State in the country to sign on to the OGP. Kaduna State which was the first to sign on in the country was at the last OGP summit in Georgia admitted as a first sub-national government in Nigeria to be admitted to OGP international. The OGP operates on four basic principles of transparency, accountability, access to information and citizens engagement. Inauguration of Edo OGP Steering Committee has been fixed for this month.
While Edo people savour the successes of the Alaghodaro summits thus far, one cannot but advise the governor and his team to ensure the strict implementation of the outcome of the two summits organized thus far and focus on creating the right environment for people of the state and their friends both within and outside the country to do business. One joins all Edo people to commend and congratulate the performing Governor, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki.

________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.