That 3rd anniversary lecture in Edo
Oshiomhole takes to the centre stage amid thunderous ovation from the audience; and, stylishly touching the tip of the microphone to adjust it to his height, he observes the usual protocol by chanting the office of virtually every guest on the high table. After this, begins the annual lecture, which has come to acquire a […]
Oshiomhole takes to the centre stage amid thunderous ovation from the audience; and, stylishly touching the tip of the microphone to adjust it to his height, he observes the usual protocol by chanting the office of virtually every guest on the high table. After this, begins the annual lecture, which has come to acquire a format for three years now, shifting in its role and deadening in its thoughtless predictability. It is needless to say that the lecturer has become an actor, a salesman, even a sappy proselytizer of his own avowed faith.
With a crowded gallery of television and video cameras, and a captive audience to play to, matter yields place to medium and solid intellectual logic succumbs to theatrics as the entire hall rumbles with phrases noted more for sound than sense. That’s Oshiomhole for real. Welcome to the atmospherics and nuances of Oshiomhole’s Town Hall meeting of November 17, 2011. He elaborated what he has done with tax payer’s money since November 14th 2008 in roads construction, schools and hospitals renovations.
The absurd peak of the epic drama was when the governor listed the projects he executed at different locations and communities in the state which (listing) was marred with duplications and, in most cases, in communities that are not in existence. Consider hospitals that were said to have been renovated in Esan West in communities of Ofukpo, Oghemere and Iraokhee, whereas it was discovered that such communities are not in existence in the said local government area. In Esan North East and Esan Central, projects are said to have been executed in communities of Ohinlin and Ukhodo and the communities do not exist in those areas. In Igueben and Esan Central Local Governments, the governor claimed projects have been executed in some General and district hospitals whereas these communities had only General and no district hospitals as claimed by the governor. He even claimed projects that were executed by the PPP, MDG, CGS, ADB and World Bank-assisted initiatives.
In Edo State, virtually all other health provisions including drugs, medical equipment and medical instruments are provided through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a Federal Government project, African Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank assisted projects. The MDG projects cover provision for drugs, ambulances, medical equipment to all the primary health care centres in all the local government areas in Edo State; provision of water through the sinking of boreholes powered by generator and solar and capacity building and skill acquisition for entrepreneurial development.
Oshiomhole’s government has not only betrayed some incompetence and lack of commitment to the security of lives and property but continues to admit this failure with dignity, not remorse. Today Edo has the highest incidence of kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and other violent crimes in Nigeria. You can hear him say today over 400 persons have been arrested and have confessed to violent crimes but have not been prosecuted. The question is, what is Edo Judiciary under Oshiomhole doing? Does he need the federal government to prosecute these cases?
Today, despite Oshiomhole’s self-acclaimed performance, the economy of the state is still stagnating. For most workers in Edo, incomes are lower than they were three years ago; health prospects are poorer; infrastructure and social institutions are breaking down. The level of rot and financial recklessness has degenerated into a state of bankruptcy as revealed on the floor of the Senate by Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi representing Ekiti North Senatorial district. An array of factors has been suggested to explain the apparent failure of development which includes: social pluralism, corruption on the part of the governor and incompetent management of our natural and human resources. The issue remains that, not that development has failed, but that it has not actually been in the agenda of the government in these past three years.
For instance, General Charles Airhiavbere, a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that free education for children of 18 years and below is possible, that the rebuilding of the dilapidated infrastructure in all our tertiary institutions including the State University, is possible, that our children and pregnant women and adult 65 years and above could still enjoy free medical services in our time. His party has long keyed into the programme on account of the campaign promises, as they believe that a people that is awake educationally cannot be lulled back to sleep again. These are not the things Oshiomhole think of nor do they mean anything to him.
Today, Edo stands tall as one of the six richest states in Nigeria and still one of the poorest six in terms of development. What a contradiction! The people have no regular supply of water, education and health systems are in chaos. All state industries have virtually collapsed. In the midst of this miasma stands Oshiomhole, a sole warrior in our socio-economic whirlpool, throwing his punches, right, left and centre, with every punch hurting Edo people’s back for three years now. It is a matter of one person against the people and this will be resolved next year.
Ihimekpen sent this piece from Benin