By Mercy Akuba
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has said Economic Activities in the state remains at high level despite the harsh economy in the Country.
He stated this at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Benin City where he paid visit to members of the Union after 7 years of his administration.
Governor Godwin who has never paid visit to the Union since he became Governor exception of his campaign days justify why he had stayed away from Media Practitioners in the State .He explained that he do not want to be seen as patronizing or influencing Journalists , rather , he wants them to independently report what they are seeing in the State without any external influence.
According to the Governor, his administration had focused more on executing projects that can sustain the citizens of the State in another 30 years, thereby making Edo State an Economic hub capable of surviving with or without external help.
“My detractors said, am not doing anything, but am telling you that my administration have done so many projects and very soon, we will be rolling them out for all to see, we are concerned about the next generation of Edo ,building structures that will help them realize their destinies”.
The Governor who decried the poor state of Federal Roads within the State said all efforts to attract the attention of Federal Government to fix the roads were all futile as his many request to fix the deplorable Benin Auchi road, Benin Agbor Road, Benin Sapele road and others did not yield results.
“Like in the case of Auchi-Ibilo road which was so bad, contractors were not mobilized there, so we requested to carry out palliative measures there but they said no, they said it is a Federal Government road and that the road has already been contracted to a contractor and we could not go further”.
He stressed that working on FG roads is not an issue for the State but policies and procedures put in place by the Federal Government have made it very difficult for the State Government to embark on repairs on the roads.
Governor Godwin explained that Edo people are being treated badly by the Federal Government stressing that is not compulsory for Edo People to Vote for the ruling government who have decided to be unfair to Federal roads in Edo State.
“We are all Nigerians, so, it is only fair and proper that the Federal Government treat Nigerians like human beings. Treating us the way we are being treated in Edo State as if we do not belong to this country is really really unfair. You don’t have to vote for a government for the government to care for the people, we are all Nigerians”.
“We are in a very difficult situation in Edo, our hands and legs are tied but the people keep blaming us not knowing the challenges that had bedeviled us as a State Government. Federal policy relating to its roads is very confusing, in the past , we could go as a State, rehabilitate and go on and give the Federal Government the bill and say we have carried out palliative on your roads, please refund and we would get the refund but is no longer tenable .”
Commending the Festus Alenkhe led leadership in Edo NUJ, Governor Godwin Obaseki noted that he is proud of the infrastructural improvement at the Secretariat of the Union and the overhauling of membership that had streamlined the real Journalists from media workers in the State.
“Mr. Chairman, Congratulations for replicating the transformation we are championing at the Civil Service here in Edo NUJ. I am indeed proud of you because you have set a record that it is possible to engineer positive change where others think it was impossible”.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council , Comrade Festus Alenkhe appreciated the Governor for approving the Ossiomo light at NUJ which has brought 24 hour supply of electricity and also hosting the NUJ NEC .
Comrade Festus Alenkhe assured the Governor that his visit to members of the Union will go a long a way to boost the morale of Journalist to do their work judiciously.