The much awaited 2019 general elections have come and gone. The inconclusive cases, notwithstanding. It is expected that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will do the needful to conclude all outstanding by-elections to ensure that justice is delivered to all contestants. Anyone who is not satisfied with the outcomes, just Like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, is free to approach the courts for redress.
But for us in Edo, we have Muhammadu Buhari as our President and Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki as our Governor. We equally have members of the Edo State House of Assembly-elect waiting on the wings for their inauguration in June. These are cherry news for Edo people as the state is APC all the way. No room for PDP anywhere.
But if I may have my way, I will advise former Vice President and candidate of the PDP in the presidential elections not to border himself to go to court, even though it is his right to do so. I offer this free counsel because I know he is sure to lose again, and it would amount to double jeopardy if he mobilises all the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SANs) to the court, pay all their fees after all the alleged vote buying from his Presidential Party Primaries through the general elections up till the apex court.
Atiku is sure to lose for the simple reason that he was beaten fair and square by Buhari. The election shows that it was only the south of Nigeria that wanted him as President. It was so obvious that his northern brothers who know him better than southerners do not want him at all. The voting pattern showed that Atiku was an orphan at home. His people didn’t want him, and the truth of the matter is that his people are more in numbers in the current geo-political equation. When a man is rejected by his people, who does he want to lead? Others in other lands?
Now that elections are over, Edo people and indeed, Nigerians are forward-looking. We need increased federal presence in Edo State, we also need our “Wake and See Governor” to continue the monumental developmental activities in all nooks and cranny of the state. We want Edo people to feel and see more of the change promised by the APC.
First, we want the Federal Government to support Governor Obaseki to ensure the completion of the Gelegele Sea Port project. We want Gelegele to be a beehive of business activities in no distant time. We want clearing of vehicles and other import goods to be routed through that port to the whole of the Niger Delta.
We want the Federal Government to also upgrade the Benin City Airport to an international airport given the strategic position of Benin as the connecting centre of South-South, South-East and South West . The Federal Government should make Benin City an Export Processing/Free Zone for the haulage of agricultural finished products overseas.
We need more federal roads in Edo State. We need full rehabilitation of the Benin by-pass. The road needs complete resurfacing with asphalt. We also need the completion of the of the by-pass to make it full circle from Oluku to Sapele Road. Edo people also want immediate completion of the Benin- Okene-Lokoja Road dualization. It should not be delayed at all to stop the nightmarish experiences of commuters on that road. There are many incidences of kidnappings, robbery and other unwholesome criminality on that road requiring urgent attention.
The Benin- Agbor and Benin-Abraka Roads equally need full rehabilitation and reconstruction respectively. Government should endeavor to complete both roads as they would continue to enhance the evacuation of agricultural produce from the rural areas to the urban centres of the state. It will even benefit neighbouring Delta State.
In Benin City, the State Government should, this time around, remember residents of Evbotubu with roads and drainages. Evbotubu and Ugbiyoko are very vast part of the city that has been suffering neglect over the years despite their massive support during elections for the APC government in the state. The state government is doing great work by linking Irinrin-Aruogba Road to Sapele Road, quite commendable effort. The Government should on the other hand, construct the Airport Road-Ulemo-Ekehuan Road as a matter of priority to open-up developments in that part of the city.
Also, the construction of Okhunmwun-Siloko Road will help link Iguosa community in Ovia North East to Siloko and all these would open up that part for the further development of the city. The Uhumora-Eme-Ora road also deserve urgent attention in Owan West Local Government Area. The ongoing road construction in Abudu, Ekpoma with side drains should also be given priority attention.
Many Edo people are of the view that the rehabilitation of these roads is urgently needed as it will go a long way in ameliorating the untold hardship and sufferings our people go through on a daily basis on these routes. Also, the rehabilitation of these roads and bridges would ease the evacuation of food and cash crops from the interior communities to the respective urban markets of Ekpoma, Uromi, Benin, Lagos, Warri and Abuja and it will be a win-win for both government and the citizens.
We also need a state-of-the art hospital in Edo State. The State Government should as a matter of urgency complete the equipping and furnishing of the Ultra modern Central Hospital in Benin City. We also need such a standard hospital in Ekpoma and Auchi to serve patients in Edo Central and North respectively so that we would cut down heavily on medical tourism and provide jobs to young medical personnel being churned out from our Universities and Schools of Nursing/Health Technology across the state.
Edo people equally look forward to the upgrade of our primary health care facilities and provide modern medical equipment in our health centres across the wards in Edo State to curb incidences of child and maternal mortality and make our state the first to end such cases in the country.
Lastly, is our educational sector. Edo people also expect heavy investment in the education sector. The Tayo Akpata University of Education , Ekiadolor must take- off with full blast. Government should provide all that is required put in place for learning, teaching and research. Some of our secondary schools need facelift. The red roof revolution and computerization of our primary school system should go on with renewed vigour and vitality. What all these means is that Edo people must continue to support the Federal and State Governments in all ways. Most importantly, Edo people should continue to hold our President, Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Godwin Obaseki and their executives with prayers to enable them succeed in providing needed developments in the state.
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• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.
