Edo: A case for sustainable development

Less than few days to the September 10 governorship election in Edo, partisanship understandably  underpins any commentary on the coming contest between the  19 all male governorship candidates, 15 male running mates and four female running mates for the soul of “The Heart Beat of the Nation”. Precisely because yours truly is in involved in […]

Less than few days to the September 10 governorship election in Edo, partisanship understandably  underpins any commentary on the coming contest between the  19 all male governorship candidates, 15 male running mates and four female running mates for the soul of “The Heart Beat of the Nation”. Precisely because yours truly is in involved in Edo project, my partisan bias is predictable for discernable partisan observers.
However, even at that, notwithstanding the truism that objectivity is under stress on the eve of any election, there are irrefutable facts that must inform electoral choices. One irrefutable fact is that the September poll in Edo, (after quality control) is in the final analysis between Godwin Obaseki, APC, with Philip Shaibu, a member of the House of Representatives, as running mate and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of PDP, with John Yakubu as running mate. Thousands of Edo voters would definitely be making the choice between the two candidates of both the APC and PDP whose campaigns have been commendably visible. 
The second incontestable fact is that the full time report of the performance of the outgoing Comrade-Governor, Adams Oshiomhole will legitimately and conclusively too (with apology to INEC!) will determine the outcome of this historic election. Many thanks to the August edition of The Kukah Centre, which commendably featured Comrade-Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as part of her Fixing Nigeria Initiative in an eventful Town hall forum. The Kukah Centre (TKC) is a Nigeria-based policy research institute, founded by Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. As one of the discussants that paraded Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, political scientist and activist, and Dr. Idayat Hassan, Director of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Mr. Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State was the chairman, I bear witness that beyond sheer aspiration, The Kukah Centre is fast emerging as a “Nigeria’s leading institution for the promotion of an active and engaged citizenry by providing support for inclusive dialogue and advocacy initiatives”.
The first podium had featured three-in-Minister Babatunde Fashola, (power, housing and work) with many participants departing with bagful of take-aways in terms of the programmes and policies of the Honourable minister.  The theme of the August Podium is “From Activism to Political Power: The Challenges of Democratic Governance in Nigeria”. To paraphrase the Chairman, Mr. Donald Duke the four- long hour session at the Auditorium of the Merit House, Maitama, Abuja was “unscripted Adams” in a no-bare citizenship engagement with a two term governor on accountability.  In his tribute to the late legend, in June this year Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah had revealed “How Mohammed Ali Taught” him “Magic” as far back as November, 2000, aboard a flight on his way from New York to South Bend, Indiana. Undoubtedly there is increasingly something “magical” with the creative ideas of Kukha centre which is making elected and appointed leaders to be enthusiastically accountable to the citizens as the two podiums of the Centre had shown. Much has been written about how Comrade-Governor, Adams Oshiomhole had positively transformed Edo state since his two year long walk to Osadebe Avenue government house in Benin City. Yours sincerely have done a number of reflections on Edo political renaissance since Adams Oshimhole joined the political process in 2006 to 2008 when he regained his stolen mandate in a landmark historic unanimous judgment which upheld the petition of the Action Congress (AC) candidate in the 2007 April 14 gubernatorial election in Edo state and subsequently declared Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Indeed we have witnessed a renaissance which defeats the old pessimism according to which nothing would work. Edo state within a short time became one huge reconstruction site in governance! Many things went on simultaneously; from massive rural and urban reconstructions to public schools reinventions, from innovated sporting facilities (remaking of Ogbemudia Stadium) to new public transportation (comrade Buses), from maternal and child care to record mass public employment in record time, from multiple assault on insecurity to mass beautification of the ancient city of Benin, to massive water project, from mass job creation through public works to prompt payment of salaries, including 25per cent increase in minimum wage above the statutory N18,000. These remarkable achievements in infrastructural development; Education; Health; Water and Electrification; Security;   Administration of Justice; Agriculture and Economic Empowerment; Employment and Welfare, Democracy and Governance definitely make APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, (who interestingly had been a part of the development team brigade in the past eight years) a worthy successor to Oshiomhole.  Comrade Governor has certainly put development agenda on the table in Edo state. And true to the progressive disposition of the good people of Edo comrade governor and his party got second term mandate in unprecedented mass victories in all the 18 local governments!  This development agenda can only be further deepened and should not be supplanted with the corruption agenda of the hitherto previous eight years of PDP in the state. It’s time for sustainable development.