The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo

Oshiomhole: Lessons in leadership

SIR: After the video went viral last week, the Comrade Governor must have had a rethink on his words and action three weeks ago. The infamous phrase made to a widow during his inspection tour didn’t go down well with the public especially netizens.

It would just have been fool hardy not to heed to calls for an unreserved apology to the widow. Mixing these calls with the political game from the opposition in Edo State, it would have been a political gaffe by the comrade governor.

With an apology backed up with the promise of scholarship to the widow’s son, inclusion in the campaign against street trading and a rare opportunity to share a cup of God knows what with the governor all standing on the shoulders of a cheque of two million is all the comrade governor, former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) needed to quell the viral situation.

Lessons to learn: One, a public officer must be careful with his words. Citizens are neither slaves nor subjects. They are the reason for your bring in power. Watch what you say and you avoid unnecessary spending.

Two, as citizens and law abiding Nigerians, street trading is unsightly. Conditions are averse. Economy is tight yet avoid go against rules and regulations of the land to avoid unnecessary embarrassment and venomous verdicts.

Finally, forcing a change through the online arena need not stop on this case. We all as Nigerians can make the change we dream of seeing by speaking out on all platforms available.

• Kelechi Amakoh

University of Lagos

December 4, 2013
And Festus fell…..

They were from the same state: Edo. But one was from the periphery and outer margins of old empire while the other was from its very heart. They were born the same year, a few months shy of each other. One died at thirty nine, while the other died twenty seven years later at sixty six. They were both writers. But while one was a master craftsman of elegant prose, the other was a fiction writer of powerful imagination. They would have known of each other. But they were not friends. In all probability, they held each other in cordial contempt.

The reason is simple. While one chose to work from the inside to expose the rotting innards of the Nigerian post-colonial state, the other waged a relentless intellectual and ideological warfare against it from the outside. No two individuals could have been more dissimilar in temperament, politics and ideological outlook. Yet in the end, they shared a similar fate. They were both victims of the state. One was spectacularly eliminated by a parcel bomb which bore all the hallmark of state execution. The other succumbed to a killer-convoy of the state

There is no further point in comparing the late Dele Giwa and the recently departed Festus Iyayi, except to note that the unarmed prophet of any hue, if he is not deliberately courting martyrdom, must learn the nature and character of the post-colonial state we are dealing with. Yet it was impossible not to admire Iyayi’s consistency and adamantine integrity even while entertaining profound ideological and strategic disagreements with his vision and version of the post-colony. But he was not one of those contemptible charlatans that the late motor park economist famously dismissed as “ Nigeria’s akara and suya Marxists”.

A quote often misattributed to Stalin has it that while one death is a tragedy, a thousand deaths are a mere statistic. Festus Iyayi’s death on the road adds to the lengthening statistics of state violence against Nigerian citizens. Other states kits and kilts their own, but the Nigerian state kills its best and brightest like a demented hen which must suck life out of its own eggs.

Thirty nine years after Iyayi came to national political prominence in a memorable ASUU industrial dispute, he was still at it, this time as an aging generalissimo and grizzled veteran of ASUU protests. Nothing has changed. If anything, the conditions in the public universities have worsened. Nigerian universities have become a global laughing stock sustained by the unusual heroism and bravery of a few. Many illustrious men and women have perished trying to make sense of this epic failure of the Black person. The intellectual fortress has been stormed and decimated. Those who deliberately destroyed the university system and whose cultural conditioning could not equip them to appreciate the virtues and values of modernity and knowledge-based civilization have gone on to become statesmen.

For a man who showed such a powerful imaginative understanding of violence in all its chilling economic, political, intellectual and psychological possibilities to die of its most crass and unimaginative variety is a truly benumbing irony. It is like a Panzer general being killed by an ox-driven cart. The killer state convoy is a unique Nigerian contribution to modern civilization. It will surely find a befitting place in a future museum of post-colonial atrocities. This must be in addition to low tech corruption and primitive state stealing. Future generations surveying the catacombs of our current catastrophe must wonder why such a gifted and creative people allowed themselves to be so misruled by their worst and most miserable human specimens.

The fate of the author of Heroes reminds one of a Second World War Japanese soldier who also goes by the name Hiroo Onoda. Twenty nine years after the Japanese surrender, this incredibly brave and hardy soldier was still roaming wild on some forsaken Filipino island simply because he had not heard his commander’s order to surrender. A special ceremony had to be arranged with his old commander, now a bookseller, to allow the man who had become a semi-beast foraging on leaves, roots and pillaged rice for three decades to lay down his arms. Iyayi fought on in the most inhuman of circumstances until he fell. This is a parable for a paradigm shift for ASUU. A diseased society cannot produce a great university system.

As a mark of respect to its fallen hero and all those who have been wasted by the Nigerian university system, ASUU must now commence an introspective soul-searching about how to redeem Nigeria along with its fallen university system. It is going to take a war of position, that is a costly inch by inch campaign rather than a war of manoeuvre which is a brisk lightning strike against a demobilised enemy. The Japanese knew that they had lost the military war, so they turned to another theatre of human engagement: economy. Once the nature of war changes, so must the mode of engagement. Luckily and as Shakespeare famously said, there is still some architecture in the ruins.

All over Nigeria, our people are being wasted on a daily basis in needless and most absurd of circumstances. It will be foolish to imagine that this human culling on an industrial scale will not have its psychic toll on future generations. The well of communal wellbeing is already poisoned. As inhabitants of the land of living ghosts, we bring you this morning an early glimpse into the culture of human wastage in this unhappy land. It was written twenty six years ago on the first anniversary of Dele Giwa’s death. Welcome to the Inca Empire and its human abattoir as enacted in post-colonial Africa.

December 1, 2013
‘The weapon against ethnic champions is performance’

From his first day in office, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has been in the eye of the storm. Even after winning a bruising second term election his actions continue to provoke controversy. He explained to SAM OMATSEYE in this interview that anyone interested in changing things will face attacks. He speaks on the challenges of governing the state, his recent run-in with members of the national conference committee and sundry issues.

Edo is a kind of mini Nigeria in that we have different peoples within Edo, and we have the different religions but that has shown some kind of homogeneity under you. Now, can you in any way speak to the issue of larger Nigeria and how to handle matters like this in terms of approaching the issue of ethnic and religious crisis that is at the bottom of the so-called Nigerian question?

This is a very interesting question. When I said Nigeria is probably one of the easiest countries to govern; this is what I had in mind. You know the normal beer parlour talk and even talk in some high places is that we are detained by some ethnic issues and the country is controlled by ethnic champions. People simply proclaim themselves as ethnic leaders, they were never the result of any formal selection and they appropriate the powers to speak for and on behalf. In Edo we have our own fair share of that, the issue of where the governor should come from used to be a big issue. In fact in my last election; there were groups, my political opponents, they had adverts on television in which they described me a stranger because I come from a part of the state that account for about 35 percent of the population and the Benin kingdom accounts for between 50 and 53 percent and so my opponent who had sworn that he must produce a governor that is of his own choosing that must come from around this particular area of the state has a final pay off for his political services. Because of the way we had handled the issues of mobilizing people on development, he felt that the only way now out, he has to swallow his pride, purge himself of that illusion and because I have become his main enemy, he felt that it doesn’t matter who now the person is, which for me was good that he now recognize that he cannot single handedly choose someone from around his family or his in-law because his initial commitment was that he must make his son-in-law a governor but he recognized that he could no longer do that and the only fall-back project for him was to play the ethnic card and they explicitly put that card on the table and they went for a guy whom they believe or who was described as deep pocketed because he had worked in the army, finance and admin where he was the cashier general and so he felt that the guy has enough money and he comes from the Benin kingdom where they account for 53 percent of the population and they believe that once he plays the ethnic card, the people will then be reminded about where they come from and the need for people to vote according to their tribe but they were shocked. In the TV advert which we can always replay and it was couched in Benin language, they described me as a stranger and then they went on to say that in Benin language that a stranger will always remain a stranger and that whatever he does, when he is going, he will go with it. So people should vote for one of themselves. I couldn’t change where I came from, so I didn’t have any ethnic response to that, but what I was humbled by the fact that even little children in those schools that we have built were also saying in the television that ‘if they say the comrade is a stranger, when he is going, he will go with what he has built, is he going to carry away our school?’ Those who drive on the way said is he going to carry away the airport road? Will he carry the Apkakpava road? Will be carry the streetlights?? Will he carry away the fountain? Will he carry the Oba market? So the people themselves were responding and above all, and I remain ever humble and grateful that easily one the most outstanding royal father we have in this country is the Oba of Benin and he was not persuaded by this sentiment of those who were arguing on ethnic basis and it was instructive what he said the day I went to ask him for blessing to seek a second term. In tradition, his royal majesty speaks through any of the chiefs that he so entrusted to speak and he said the Benin interest means a Benin candidate is the one who will address the needs of the Benin people, not necessarily Benin by blood but Benin in heart, Benin in action, one understands the issues and is determined to address those issues and he believed that by my actions I have proven much more than that and I think the third chief in rank speaking on behalf of the Oba that day says if at old age, a father sees his children messing up his edifice and devaluing it and abandoned the house to rust and someone came and he rebuild the house, he has re-roofed it, is redecorating and then the children come and say ‘drive this man away he’s a stranger’, no responsible father will listen and that what we are doing and what we have done in Benin shows that this governor is more Benin in heart than some of the people who were claiming and preaching Benin. In any case they have had a Benin governor before and it is easy to compere. Now this is the people speaking not me, I am just humbled that people can see that the issue is not where you come from; the issue is what are you able to do for us? I also think that part of the issue why ethnicity assumes such prominence in our political discourse is also the narrow mindedness of our leaders. In my first budget, I made the point, I think I spoke to it earlier, I said we will devote 80 percent of our capital project to Benin City because it is our capital. Every local government is very well represented in Benin city, there is no local government which doesn’t have it people here, living here, some don’t even go home, they only know or they were told when they were born but they have all been living here. So if you touch the life of this city, reposition it, build schools, build road, deal with generational crisis, there is a way in which you can genuinely claim that you have touched every one because every community is represented and so we will start from here and I said the last place I will work, according to my own work plan will be what I call my accident of birth place. I said so in a town hall meeting, they came to me they said ‘ you don’t talk like that, you have to start from your village’ and they gave me examples of leaders who did such a thing. ‘Start from your village because at the end that is where you are returning to. Charity begins at home’ and I said but my villagers could not make me a governor because we have only one polling booth. So if people entrust me with a position of responsibility, I think it is an act of stupidity, not just ingratitude to think that, okay, now you are here, I know where I come from. These people knew where you come from and they entrusted you with their commonwealth to manage. If leaders by their actions show that regardless of your location you will be affected positively by government decision, it will not matter where you come from. Just imagine if you wake up today and you no longer need to buy diesel, you no longer know the telephone number of your generator’s mechanic and you can calculate how much you are saving, not for your employer now for your own house. A government delivers that to you, then somebody comes tomorrow and say that president is not from your area, you don’t even want to know where the president is from but you know that he is someone that dealt with the issue of power and you can see how much you have saved, and how much you are saving and how you are able to use that to deal with other domestic challenges that you have and in the case of your employer, he can see how much it is now much more competitive, the cost in his production cost and he will want to sustain that. If anybody comes and said because the man who did that doesn’t speak your dialect and therefore you should oppose him, you will think that the man is a fool, he is trying to fool you. For me therefore, the weapons against ethnic champions is performance and Nigerians are able to see through that and am not saying it for the first time, when I was in the NLC, it used to be the case that people argue when you want to mobilize against authority that they will use tribalism to divide your rank and file but I was president for 8 years and to start with, those who elected me as president, not up to 10 percent of them are from Edo state, in terms of the population of Nigerian workers. When I had opportunity to call a strike, people in Sokoto, Calabar, Madiuguri, Lagos, nobody ever asked where does comrade Oshiomhole come from to decide whether to follow or not. The Yorubas complied as much as the Hausas complied, as much as the Igbos complied as much as the minorities complied. I remember once at Hilton hotel I met …I BELIEVE he is the son of former president Shagari and he called me out and he said this is comrade and they were all full of praise words when we had photo opportunity and they said ‘you know what comrade, when it is you, you are like Nigeria football, nobody cares for your tribe because your message is so powerful and everybody can connect with it that it will be become an …..to say where is he from? Wherever he is from he knows what our problem is and he is articulating it and he is consistent on it then it doesn’t matter where he comes from. I think the problem of Nigeria is, leaders who are bereft of ideas unable to sufficiently motivate and inspire the people fall back to ethnic sentiment as a defense line. When you are in trouble, rather than account, you appeal to ethnic sentiment so that your tribes’ men will now form a wall around you and you then replace the issue with ethnic sentiment. There was a time, and this for me was the height of this when an MD, I believe it was the MD of NNPC, many years ago under the military he was charged for certain corrupt practices and people from his area went to Lagos with placards …even if the man stole money is he the first person to steal? Now because he is from our area, that is why they are prosecuting him. They never disputed the fact that the allegation against him are weighty and that they should allow the court to determine whether he is innocent or guilty but he has gone home to say that he is being charged because of where he comes from and the people said yes everybody has been stealing, just now that our son who is also doing what others did, why should he be the one that should be prosecuted? So it is those who have no alternative who fall back and because of the level of illiteracy, sometimes, some people believe, but also I believe that when those who are involved in the consternation, both of them are bereft of ideas, they also engage each other based on the ethnic issues and so the only thing on the agenda therefore is not who you are but where you come from.

November 17, 2013
Oshiomhole: Five years of promise kept

In this piece, Samuel Eguaikhide contends that Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has redeemed his campaign promises to the people.

On November 12, 2103, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole would lock five years in the saddle as the governor of Edo State.

The score-card of the man who prefers the simple title of Comrade Governor or Mr. Governor to the more fanciful and elegant ‘Executive Governor’, is a matter of intense debate among the people of the three senatorial districts in the State. The question now is: how has Comrade Adams Oshiomhole fared in the last 1,829 days as the man administering the fortunes of Edo State?

What is not in doubt in Edo State is that Comrade Oshiomhole has performed excellently, but what the people argue about is how the projects are distributed. While some say he has concentrated more in Edo South, some argue that most of the projects are in Edo Central while the rest insist that Edo North enjoys more government patronage. The debates still rage even as I write this. However, the fact is that no part of the state enjoys more patronage than the other as projects are evenly and equitably distributed.

Before Oshiomhole came on board, the story in the state was that of pain, agony, disillusionment, despair and disappointment occasioned by decades of criminal neglect, marginalization and deceit by previous administrations.

On assumption of office on November 12, 2008, Comrade Oshiomhole, fresh from being the Labour Leader Number 1, made a pledge to the people of the state that the decay of the past years would be reversed. Today, the promises have been fulfilled and the people now see that government can really work for the people.

The success story is felt and seen in all parts of the state, from Benin City the state capital to Damgbala in Akoko Edo; from Ozalla in Owan West to Ewohinmi in Esan South-East. From school projects to road projects, to health projects, to water projects, to rural electrification, the list is endless.

In fact, the Governor’s magic wand has touched all the 192 wards that make Edo State have in terms of one project or the other. No single ward is left out!

The road projects undertaken and completed in Benin City, the state capital in five years makes one wonder if there were tarred roads in the city before his coming.

From the flagship six-lane Airport road which is now complete with side drains and walkways, with underground drains which in some parts are over five-metres deep and two metres wide, complete with street lights and greens to the equally beautiful six-lane Akpakpava road which has the same accoutrements as the Airport road, the Oshiomhole government signaled a clear intention to develop Benin City into one of Nigeria’s most modern cities.

However, there are other road projects completed in Benin City which have completely transformed the face of the capital city. Among these are the Gani Fawhinmi Layout comprising six roads complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Oba Market road complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; stadium road, complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Sokponba road, complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; 2nd West Road complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; six-lane Sapele Road, complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Upper Siluko road complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Six-lane New Lagos road; completed street lights at Upper Soponba; completed street lights at Ramat Park-Agbor road; Oro street, Uwa lane, 3rd cemetery, Iheya, Five Junction and other adjoining streets, all completed with covered drains, walkways and street lights. Also, the King’s Square in the heart of Benin City sits proudly with a beautiful musical tune and a water fountain which glows in different colours.

A number of Primary and Secondary schools across the seven local governments and wards in Edo South have also been refurbished and reconstructed.

After a little setback, work on the 120-bed hospital Complex at the Central Hospital has recommenced and the people are eagerly looking forward to its completion.

The N25 billion water storm masterplan which is aimed to deflood the state capital is ongoing, and even in the first phase, the promise of what it can do is already being felt.

In Edo central, Ekpoma and Iruekpen which have been without water for over 25 years due to the rocky and low level of the water table now boast of potable water as boreholes have been sunk in both places with the Dando drilling rigs purchased by the Government. Also installed at the two sites are water treatment plants to make further purify the water. Both projects have been completed and the people of Iruekpen and Ekpoma now enjoy potable water. However, other places in Edo Central now boast of potable water which they have lacked for years.

On roads, the Isua-Uzenema road is completed with side drains; the Igueben-Udo road, Igueben-Ewohinmi-Ewatto-Ohordua road; the Amedokhian-Ugboha road; the Irrua-usugbenu-Ugbegun-Ujogba, almost completed. These are among the many roads undertaken by this administration in Edo Central in the state.

The schools completed are Ewu Junior Secondary School; St John Bosco, Ubiaja; Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua, Ibhedu Primary School, Ohordua, Okaigben Primary School, Ewohinmi and Eguare Primary School, Ekpoma. The ongoing schools projects are Our Lady of Lourdes, Uromi; Our Savior Primary School, Iruekpen. All these schools, roads and water projects are in addition to the rural electrification projects in many communities in the area.

The Women and Children Hospital at Ewohinmi has also been completed and awaiting commissioning.

In Edo North, many of the road projects are completed and awaiting commissioning. These are Ewan-Ojirami-Makeke-Dangbala-Lampese road; Otuo-Ihievbe-Ogben road, Ayua-Jattu road completed with side drain; Iyamo-Iyora road, completed with side drain and a bridge; Apana-Jattu road, completed with side drain; Ayogwiri-Apana-Igodo-Okpekpe; Auchi-Jattu road, complete with street lights; Ikabigbo-Jattu road completed; Jattu-Ibie road; Ivioghe-Igiode-Uzanu; Ekperi-Anegbete road with bridge, due for commissioning.

In Edo, the red roof revolution, is a common denominator in almost every village in the state. This simply means the revolution in the rebuilding of the public schools which were left to rot for years.it

It is a thing of joy to see that what the people talk about now is the sitting of projects and not the lack of it as was the case in years past.

Oshiomhole has done well in five years, he has performed creditably and no doubt the people are happy.

Eguaikhide, a university don, writes from Ekpoma

November 12, 2013
Behind Nosa’s Why You Love Me video

SHOT in the heart of Lagos Mainland, gospel artiste, Nosa, recently released behind-the-scenes photos from the video shoot for his new hit single, Why You Love Me. Released earlier in August 2013, the song was written and produced by Nosa himself.

The artiste says that the song not only depicts the love of God but also serves as a template for anyone who has experienced love and wants to talk about it. The exciting dance video portrays happiness experienced from God’s love with a theme around various Nigerian cultures. The sounds are a blend of the South-south region with Edo, Delta and Eastern infusions.

The video also featured cameo appearances by Audu Maikori and Paul Okeugo of the Chocolate City Group. Mex of Pixel Chaos, who also shot Ice Prince’s Oleku and MI’s Safe, directed the video.

November 10, 2013
Thugs unleash mayhem on Edo community

Residents of Ukhorumi community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State are trying to come to terms with the calamity that befell their community. The hitherto peaceful community was attacked by armed men suspected to be thugs hired to settle scores between two feuding leaders of the community.

The once bubbling town is now turned into a ghost town. Its residents are yet to return one week after the deadly attack. The community head (Odionwere), Pa John Edosomwan, managed to flee with nothing but the cloths on his back. He is now taking refuge in a nearby village. Many residents fled into the bush when the thugs struck.

At the end of the attack, three persons laid dead, properties worth several millions of naira including 15 houses, 12 vehicles and motorcycles were burnt. Poultry farm housing over 10,000 birds belonging to an ex-banker was vandalised and looted. Some new buildings erected by non-indigenous of the community were also burnt.

Trouble was reportedly sparked off when the Vice Chairman of Ukhorumi Community Development Association, Ovbokhan Igbinovia was suspended from office by the chairman, Prince Ewuare Erese.

The suspension followed alleged refusal of the community leaders to accompany a relation of the Vice Chairman, Omonedo, to lay the foundation of a building project because he did not inform them five days ahead.

Prince Ewuare said the decision not to accompany Omonedo did not go down well with Ovbokhan, who he alleged rained abuses on him, a development that provoked the suspension. He said the suspension letter was yet to be delivered and that the elders were already discussing the matter when the attackers came.

He said his younger brother and the youth PRO were killed before his eyes. Speaking with newsmen when he went to take stock of the destruction under heavy security, Prince Ewuare said his life was under threat.

“This is my first time of coming here. Look at all the destruction they have done even those buildings that belonged to the people that are not from this community. I saw them from where I was hiding how they shot my brother. I ran away and did not know where my family is now. The thugs were brought from neighbouring communities. The vice chairman said he was supposed to be the chairman and not me. My house at Amagba village was also burnt.”

The community head, Pa Edosomwan said the elders were already discussing the issue of the building by Omonedo when some youths invaded the community. He said he ran to the police station when the shooting started but that damage was already done before security operatives arrived.

“When the shooting started, I went through the bush to the police station to complain about the attack. But the police did not leave. I was informed at the police station that many buildings were on fire.”

On why he was yet to return home, he said there is no place to go to as his buildings were affected.

A school teacher, Izevbokun Osafamwen, whose building was razed said he is now sleeping on the bare floor with his family in an apartment provided by a friend.

“I have a house there where I lived with my family. I was called not to go home that day that the community was on fire. I managed to rescue my child. They have burnt my house. I slept in bush with my family that night. I lost all my certificates in the fire. Somebody just gave me a place to sleep on the floor with my wife and four children. Somebody should come to my aid. I don’t have money to rent a house now.”

Evelyn Obadiaru’s father lost three buildings to the attack. She said her father and his aged wife were picked up in the bush after two days.

However, independent investigation however revealed that the attack on the community was in retaliation for the killing of an undergraduate by thugs who first invaded the community.

At the time of this report on Tuesday evening, it was learnt that the Edo State Police Command were questioning elders of the community and Ovbokhan, who was fingered for the mayhem, had been arrested.

Similarly, it was gathered that the Oba of Benin, Oba Eradiauwa II had sent traditional chiefs to the security operatives for detailed investigation of the causes of the crisis in Ukhorumi and other communities.

Sources close to the monarch said he expressed concern over “incessant and disturbing occurrences of community clashes, boundary disputes and land matters in his kingdom”.

The monarch was said to be disheartened that the development was a dent to the much valued peaceful co-existence of his people. He spoke through the Chairman of Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief Eduwu Ekhator Obasogie.

Oba Erediauwa frowned at a situation where members of Community Development Association who are supposed to be involved in development of community turned around to become instrument of destabilisation and disrupting utilisation of available resources of the people.

He said, “We are now witnessing a very sad and total liquidation of our age-long keynote of oneness which has been the hallmark of our collective responsibility and peaceful co-existence in the kingdom and in the state.

“Our communal landscapes have been turned into war zones with rival parties armed to the teeth with weapons of destruction. They go on rampage desecrating our beloved fatherland with wanton destruction of lives and properties.”

Edo State Police spokesman, DSP Moses Eguaveon said investigations were still going on in the Ukhorumi crisis.

Eguaveon said normalcy has been return to the community and advised members of the community to return home for normal businesses.

He however added that anybody found culpable would be invited for questioning.

A soldier who was in the village shortly after the attack told the Nation under condition of anonymity that they met the houses on fire but that the attackers have fled.

He said they were not informed about the incident on time.

November 8, 2013
Edo PDP still smarting from council polls’ defeat

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot, in the foreseeable future recover from the bloody-nose it suffered in the recent Esan North East Local government re-run election from the state-ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Prince John Mayaki has said.

“No amount of public relations spin can help the PDP in Edo State recover from the political reputational defeat they suffered in that re-run election in Esan North East Local Government Area, at least, not in the foreseeable future”, Mayaki said yesterday in Benin City, the state capital.

The governor’s aide, who spoke against the background of what he described as political intrigues and antics perpetrated in some quarters, observed that Edo PDP “are spending heavily on adverts and sponsored articles accusing Governor Oshiomhole and his party for the bloody-nose they sustained at the re-run, doubtless if they are aware that the public, even in Chief Tony Anenih’s home, still view them with suspicion, if not outright contempt and as such, countering accusations from the PDP is completely an unnecessary distraction.”

Expatiating, he said: “It was an awful outing for Chief Anenih and PDP during their blitz in governance of Edo State. Critics had insisted that they would pay for their exuberance later but thank goodness, Oshiomhole came with some careful political engineering, in which he re-captured the politically distressed local governments.

“Given their poor performance and worthless political investments, I have no doubt that their leaders were merely hanging on Abuja while others gasping for political oxygen for survival and hoping the council polls would be won and as such, milk it’s treasury for as long as possible.

“Their shopaholic days are over. They have since realised how bad things look and trying to paint the exercise in bad light. What were they expecting, if I may ask? They lost Akoko Edo House of Assembly re-run, lost Etsako Central re-run, lost the governorship election where Governor Oshiomhole won in 18 local government out of 18, and thereafter lost the 18 councils to APC. They should remember that the constant variable or common denominator in life is change.”

November 3, 2013
Edo senator, rep clash over constituency projects

A senator representing Edo North, Deacon Domingo Obende, has alleged that some of his projects, which would facilitate his re-election in 2015, were being claimed by the member representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Mr. Abubakar Momoh.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Sani Collins Ojo, said: “It is unfortunate that a member of our great party and a lawmaker representing Etsako Federal Constituency is laying claims to some of the projects executed by our amiable senator. It is still very unclear, the rationale behind this, although we hear of his intention to contest the no-vacant seat in 2015. But I don’t think it calls for desperation.

“Senator Domingo’s projects are verifiable and we know them all. The ones being claimed by the legislator are primary health care centres in Fugar, Agenegbode and Auchi. The senator, I am aware, parades projects in the six local governments that make up the senatorial district. For someone to grab three projects in Etsako alone that do not belong to him, calls for concern.”

November 1, 2013
Why I’m writing a book on public administration, by ex-Edo SSG

THE youths in Edo State say good things about you; what is the magic behind this?

My philosophy of life is to try as much as possible to touch many lives in a positive manner, and I believe that the future belongs to the youths. If you go to any campaign ground, 70 per cent of the people you see there are youths, same on the voting day, therefore, if you neglect the youths, you are not only neglecting the present generation but the future generation as well if attention is not given to the youths.

It is for this reason that I had always invested in the youths – I have been doing this right from my days in the medical profession, especially as an activist in the NMA. This is what has brought me close to many youths associations in the state and beyond. When they come to me, I listen to them, and in my own way assist them. This was why when I was dropped from the government, they were not happy but I assure them that nobody has the prerogative to remain in office. I really find it rewarding assisting the youths in whatever capacity I can.

What have you been doing since you left office as SSG?

I have not really been idle since I left office. I have been very busy with various activities that I have occupied myself with. I have my future all mapped out, whether in office or not. I am an academic, with two fellowship in pediatrics, I could take up a teaching job if I meant to. Since I left office, I have been serving government as a consultant to the state government on internal revenue; I have served and still serving in various committees of the state ruling party. I am also putting a book together to educate public servants on governance and administration. The book is titled, “Understanding Public Administration As a Tool for Effective Service Delivery”. This book has been completed and about being sent to the publisher. It is billed to be out in the next one or two months. It is based on my experience in the various offices I held during the past 19 years. This book will prepare those aspiring for public offices. I am also trying to put one or two thing in place to give myself support. My family is also there for me to look after – I have not been bore but rather very busy since I left office.

As a stakeholder in Afemai politics, there is this recent vote of no confidence passed on the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe by your people. What is your take on this?

Though it was a party issue, I think it was a wrong decision taken by those involved. I believe there are better ways of getting leaders to do those things we believe they are not doing. What that exercise portrayed, is the leadership question in Edo North. I think if we had an established structure on ground, either at the traditional institution level, the problem of going to the public to pass a vote of no confidence would not have occurred. Perhaps some of the reasons behind their actions may be genuine but not how it was handled. I think there should have been a better way of telling him about his shortcomings.

How would you react to the insinuation that your desire to become a senator in Edo North in 2015 has pitched you against the governor and some key political actors in the area?

I have made it clear to my supporters and family that I have no desire to contest a senatorial position, I am a careful person and I take my time to access situation, though there has been glamour for me to contest, I have told them that my spirit has not convinced me at this point in time to run for the senate or any other political office for now.

For those who think am a clog in their wheel of progress, let me use this opportunity to let them know that I am not aspiring for any political office. I also like the public know that I have no problem with the governor as regards any senatorial ambition or any political position whatsoever.

Why are you so committed to Oshiomhole despite the fact that he dumped you after working hard to ensure he was re-elected?

I do not have any problem with the governor. I do not have any disagreement with Oshiomhole. My relationship with Oshiomhole is very cordial. I worked with him during his first tenure as Head of Service and Secretary to Government. I was an integral part of government during the first term and I had a good work relationship with him. We all worked hard for him to win his second term election, the prerogative as to who remains or becomes his SSG is his and in his wisdom, he decided to drop me. And when that happened, I gave God the glory, for enabling me to serve SSG after I had retired as the HOS.

So, I had no problem whatsoever when I was dropped because I had prepared myself that I would one day leave office. As I speak with you, the same governor has appointed me as a consultant to the state on revenue, under this platform; I interact with him quite often. I am also serving in various committees that he has put in place. Talks about disagreement with the governor are mere speculations.

What is your response to the mirage of criticism of Oshiomhole’s government this second term?

I have heard some of these things and feel surprised that people are talking like this. The fact is that it is very difficult to satisfy Nigerians and Edo people in particular. If you look at Edo State now and compare it to the era before Oshiomhole became the Governor of Edo State, you will agree with me that the changes he has brought are phenomenon. It is uncharitable for people to start doubting his government. If the roads in Benin are the only thing he has done, there is no doubt in my mind that he has brought changes to the State. Name it; Airport Road, Akpakpava Road, Sapele Road, this development is not only visible in Benin City but in other parts of the State as well. But by far the most visible intervention of Oshiomhole’s government is in the area of education. Public schools in the state were not longer viable before his intervention but as I speak, you have more parents changing their wards school from private to public schools because of Oshiomhole’s intervention. Many universities in this country today do not have some of these facilities in some of these schools in Edo State. It is the same in the health sector and water.

November 1, 2013
‘Why Edo is selling its property in Lagos’

The planned sale of the ‘Edo House’, the property of the Edo State government in Lagos, has generated controversy. Governor Adams Oshiomhole spoke with reporters in Benin-City, the state capital, on the transactions and other issues. Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia was there.

Tempers are rising over the proposed sale of the Edo House by your administration. What informed this decision?

I think that the whole essence of democracy is that people have the right to express support and people also have the right to condemn in the strongest term possible any matter of public interest for which they feel uncomfortable. That is what makes us an open society and we are prepared and ready to response to any question. First, Edo House has not been sold and it will not be sold secretly. Yes, we decided as a government at the level of the State Executive Council to look at the matter of Edo House and all issues around it and we came to the conclusion that it is in the interest of Edo State and, in particular, Edo Tax payers, that that property be put to the market in a very transparent manner. I emphasise this because governve been sold by previous government, including military and civilian, without the benefit of advertising it.

If we wanted to have an underground transaction, to sell to ourselves or family, we will not need to advertise it. It is consistent with our commitment for transparency and accountability that we decided that, as a matter of obligation, we decided to advertise the house. However, having noticed some reactions, I thought that, giving an opportunity such as this, we put the matter to the public and more so, that it has not yet been sold, but our decision to sell it has not been revised, but we are willing to have an open mind and certainly, not an empty mind on this matter. I think I have a duty as your steward to share with you my conviction and reason why as the governor of Edo State, I approved of the decision to sell the house.

What are the facts about Edo House, considering the stiff opposition from indigenes against the proposed sale?

Edo House, as it is called, is located on a prime area, along with several states, which have similar properties in the same area. This was as a result of the fact that Lagos was the capital of Nigeria. Consequent upon the creation of Abuja, just as we are been summoned to Abuja from time to time, it was even more so during the military that governors had to go to Lagos for one meeting or the other. And of course, you need effective liaison between the state government and the Federal Government when Lagos was the capital of Nigeria. So, in order words, Edo House in Lagos was built to provide space for liaising services and secondly, to provide accommodation.

In Edo House, we have what is called the governor’s chalet and the deputy governor’s chalet and other chalets to be used for government and non-government officials when they are in Lagos. As far as I know, that was the reason Edo House was built as at the time it was built. However, two things have happened. First, Lagos lost the status of being the capital of Nigeria when the capital was relocated to Abuja. Consequently, the issue of Lagos liaison between Edo State and the Federal Government can no longer take place in Lagos. Indeed, I am sure that many of you will know that the Federal Government has sold the Federal Secretariat and a lot of Federal Government properties in Lagos, although in some cases, in a controversial manner, but it has been sold.

The 1,004 housing units, which used to house the National Assembly members, once Lagos lost it status as the capital and the parliament relocated to Abuja, the property was sold, and it remained sold to private companies because there was no need to maintain them when the parliament is no longer in Lagos. We can speak about several properties that have been sold. The state governments have sold their properties built for liaison purposes between those state and the former federal capital.

We want to ensure that the investment we make is sensible and that you do not tie down money or asset that is performing so that the primary political purpose and even the social purpose is lost. The Edo House, before I assumed office, from records, showed that none of my predecessors stayed in that lounge. The governors and their deputies did not stay there because it has been in terrible shape and I can almost swear that, even if we decide to revise the decision, it is not likely to be used by my successors.

What is your reaction to the argument that the property is commercially viable, contrary to the position of the state government?

That again is not true and the answer is no. I have asked for all the evidence. My predecessor in government had contracted the management of Edo House to various estate agents. I confirmed recently that the managing agents have changed for six times and, from records, the last one was done by a commissioner under my government during my first tenure. Whether the agent has changed or not, the facts available are clear.

The total annual estimated income, if and when it is paid in full by our agent, is put at N34 million, but even this amount was never realised in one year, certainly not since I assumed office and you all know how hard I have tried to collect every revenue available to the Edo State. But the record of my predecessors show that the return was even less as of that time. If we assume, without conceding, that we have been able to reaslise N34 million in 10 years, it will attract N340 million and, if you pay five per cent to the estate manager, your net would be N340 million in 10 years minus 10 percent.

In 20 years, it would be N620 million, in 0 years, we would have made N1. 36 billion. I want to imagine that we have seasoned estate managers. I also want to recall that, when I was the Chairman of the Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund, we were involved in acquiring real estate and I was told by the experts that, in trying to put value, whether it is viable to buy landed property, you are looking at a possibility of between 12 and 14 years. If you can’t recover your investment, it is not considered a viable asset.

So, when I say that Edo House is not viable, it is because I believe, whether by reason of its location and what it might require to reposition it, it would be worth a couple of billions. I would be shocked certainly, if anybody tells me it would be less than that.

Some people reason that it would be better to re-invest in it than outright sale?

Yes, it is an option. We can decide to rebuild or renovate, but it would require more than half a billion naira to put the property in a rentable state to compete with other properties in that neighborhood. As your governor and steward, who has the privilege of collecting your taxes and putting those taxes into best use, the issue for me, is will it be in the interest of Edo people that I collect half a billion and take it to Lagos and re-invest it so that we can collect more rent? If we collect more rent ,how many years? What is the commercial purpose?

Don’t you think the Edo House represents a monument that needs to be preserved for children yet unborn?

I have heard some people say that and I have tried to search for the meaning of the word monument in the Oxford Dictionary. Edo House is not one of our tourist attractions and there is no big history behind it. It does not depict our traditional value, neither was it designed by an architect that had in mind the peculiar Edo culture. And, if anybody says it represents our culture or it is a monument, then, I stand to be educated. A monument cannot be an asset that would be so bad that no body here would say he went to Lagos last week and stayed there. However, my first choice in arriving at the decision to sell, and this is in line with our commitment to raise revenue from any legitimate sources as we can in order to rebuild Edo State. Government, no matter how hard we try, never seem to get full value from property the way a private person would do. Some people have converted it to hotel and for short stay. I had to take your tax payers money to hire a senior lawyer and the case is running for, at least, three years now. As we speak, ejecting those tenants has not been possible and, if things go the way they are, the matter will be not be settled during my tenure. We are living painfully with an individual who is defrauding the Edo State government. For an individual property owner, there are many options to get rid of your tenants. For me, I am very clear of my mandate and obligation and it is to develop Edo State and not Lagos State because I am committed to divest in Lagos and re-invest in Edo. We are not set out to be collecting rent from rooms and parlous. When I was campaigning, I didn’t promise that I was going to build houses for rent because no government is about that.

You just talked about divesting to re-invest the proceeds back to Edo State. What area of investment is your government considering?

I believe Edo State needs a convention centre. It is my conviction. Edo State needs to be a tourist centre because we have a lot of historic centres to attract tourists in all the 18 local government areas. For Edo to truly become a tourist destination, there are certain infrastructure that must be put in place, not just a five star hotel, but one with convention facilities. In Edo, we have various hotels, but certainly, not a five-star hotel and we do not have any conference hall, you do not want to host any event where all the participants are scattered in different hotels and before now, in going round Benin City, I observed the location of the military hospital and I was told why and when it was built, but given today’s reality of Benin City, the military barrack is at Ekenwa and we have discussed with the military and they have given approval in principle to cede the place to us on the authority of the Chief of Army staff.

The land can be put to better use for the good of Edo people. In selling Edo House, the proceed will be use to built a five-star hotel and we will subsequently privatise it in a transparent manner because experience has shown that government is not a good managers of business based on current reality, so that we do not owe it 100 per cent depending on who is coming into it with the government

There are speculations that you have already sold the house to yourself

One of my friends, who do not like me now, said that I took his land and gave it to a company to built a shopping mall and he alleged that I have sold the house 60 per cent to my self and 40 percent to what he described as a non- biological son. I m not an angel, but I am not a greedy person and I pray that I will never become so greedy that I want to become the owner of Edo State, and that is not in my prayers.

November 1, 2013