BENIN CITY – One week after assuming office, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday in Benin City paid his first official visit to the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II
He was accompanied by the State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Hon. Osarodion Ogie, Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, the Chief Of Staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Hon. Anselm Ojezua, immediate past SSG, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, APC Woman leader, Dr. Mrs. Aisosa Amadasun party chieftains and other dignitaries.
Governor Obaseki disclosed that they were in the palace to inform the Monarch that they have taken over the reigns of government of Edo State and they have resumed work.
“Today I have come with the members of my new team. It’s still a very small team and the Permanent Secretaries, who currently, are helping me to run government to first come and seek your blessings, your royal blessings as we start the business of running government. We also want to use the opportunity, Sir, to come and seek for your cooperation and support in key areas which we want start to address,” the Governor affirmed.
Enumerating the areas of focus, Governor Obaseki hinted, “The first will be the issue of land administration. I know it’s of concern to you. You know how important land is to us. We are currently working on series of measures which we will unveil very shortly. We have to deal with the issue of land and development control in the state, particularly in your kingdom. As you know sir, this kingdom prides itself as having one of the best land tenure system in Nigeria. Unfortunately, owing to certain developments in the past, we lost that pride of place and with your cooperation and support, we will want to ensure that we make the land tenure administration system in Edo State a pride of position so that we can attract meaningful investments into the state.
“Another area that is of concern to us, which we will draw your Majesty to support and throw your weight behind us, is the issue of cleanliness and the environment. Edo state is today not what we grew up to meet. Our goal is to make Edo State and Benin City in particular the cleanest state and the cleanest city in Nigeria in the next couple of months. Government alone cannot do it. We know that with your active support and cooperation of the enigie, the edionwere, tenants across the city, we should be able to accomplish that goal,” he stressed.
He explained that the third area of concern to his administration is security hence he emphasized the need to operate an internal security using the Edo State vigilante pointing out, “We in Edo State want to have our own security tract which will be linked to the security arrangement of the federal government. We want to emphasize community policing and see how we can integrate the current vigilante system that we have to operate them, ensure that we use them to effectively police, collect intelligence, pass on all their information to the federal security agencies. Here again we will be soliciting your support.”
While seeking support and sustained active relationship with the Oba’s Palace and the traditional institution in the state for the success of this initial programmes, Governor Obaseki, who reiterated his determination to create 200,000 jobs for the unemployed in the state, thanked the Benin Monarch, congratulated him on his successful coronation ceremony and wished him long reign on the throne.
Responding, the Omo N ’Oba N ’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II expressed confidence in the ability of the Governor to use his wealth of experience both from the private sector and the his predecessor to bear to take Edo State to higher heights and bring the dividends of democracy to the people.
The Benin Monarch urged Governor Obaseki to appeal to the federal government to transform the gelegele sea port in order to make it commercially viable as an export processing zone for agro-allied industries even as he enjoined him to attract federal presence to the state.
He decried the activities of community development associations in Edo State particularly in Edo South on land-related issues and noted that such matters should be handled by the enigie and edionwere the While thanking the people and government of the state for their role in his coronation ceremony.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of coronation souvenirs to the Governor and Deputy Governor.
