In 1999, the Military handed over to a democratically elected government to usher in the Fourth Republic. Our hopes were very high. Finally, after a run of 15 straight years of the military which began after the overthrow of the Shagari government on December 31st, 1983, we thought we were now rid of those people in Jack boots who more often than not, slapped you just because they could.
And then, came the plague. Civilian government after civilian government, we asked for basic things like electricity, water, roads, hospitals, schools, and peace and security.
We are still asking. The needle has hardly moved on any of these issues 25 years on.
In Edo State, under the new dispensation, we began with the son of a wealthy man. His reign which we thought was unremarkable at the time because we had high expectations, is now being reevaluated in the light of poor performances by successive governments.
For example, no government in Edo has hired as many teachers as Lucky did since his administration.
Professor Osunbor had a short stint because of infighting in his Party.
In 18 months of his leadership, a modern road connected my village of Ohordua for the first time. As a kid, village meetings were held in my house regularly, and all I heard my father and his fellow village people ever discuss was how to get a road to my village. Many times, during the rainy season, my village would be cut off from the rest of the State.
It is therefore with a grateful heart that I assess the government of Professor Osunbor.
Oshiomole is a showman. He has a strong sense of PR. What is not known quantifiably is whether real achievements can be seen and evaluated when bright lights are thrown on his works.
For the most part, he did a good job catering to the political class.
This is what makes it difficult to assess his government. Many people benefitted as individuals. As many people as you meet will tell you stories of Oshiomhole’s generosity.
In almost 8 years since Obaseki has been in the saddle, unlike Oshiomole, the common complaint among the political class has been about him being stingy.
We may want to ask the question: stingy with whose resources or generous with whose resources?
We would have to wait to assess his government after he’s gone. Any attempt at evaluating him now may not be objective enough. He has less than two months to go.
Even then, one must rejoice at the things we can see.
The Edo State Civil Service is the most 2024 friendly of all State Services in Nigeria.
Today is the day when we must all go to the polls in an off-season election cycle to put our faith in one man or woman for the next four years.
People of Edo State, your future is in your hands. Go to the polls and do your part. Let us hope that whoever is elected will at the very least devote some time to the people’s needs and aspirations.
God bless Edo State, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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