TELL Magazine

Ahead of the September 19, 2020 gubernatorial election in Edo State, Edo indigenes in the Diaspora have thrown their weight behind the re-election bid of the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu. Special adviser to the governor on media and communication strategy, Crusoe Osagie said in a statement on Sunday, that the governor’s support base had continued to grow on the back of his “personal character, integrity and performance in office, including sectoral reforms and investment in infrastructure to attract investors and industries, leading to the refurbishing of the Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), formerly Benin Technical College and setting up of the Edo Production Centre in Benin City, among others”.

Osagie said a cross-section of Edo indigenes in Canada and Europe believed that the reelection of Obaseki and Shaibu for another term would give the administration the opportunity to consolidate on its sustainable development drive across the state.

Jolly Iguodala, the Coordinator of Edo Diaspora Front of UK, a socio-political pressure group, during a solidarity walk to the Nigeria High Commission in London, according to Osagie, commended Obaseki for his strides and “irrepressible commitment” to peace and good governance in Edo State. Iguodala explained that the peace walk tagged ‘Thank You Obaseki for Liberating Edo People from the Shackles of Darkness,’ was in support of his giant developmental paradigm in Edo State.

According to Iguodala, “We salute Obaseki’s pragmatism and enduring sagacity to provide happiness for the generality of Edo masses. His unalloyed commitment to the provision of good governance has ruffled the godfathers and those elements who see governance as a means of self-enrichment to the detriment of the larger society. We take notice and applaud Obaseki for his timely and regular payment of workers’ salaries. We laud him for ensuring that pensioners’ entitlements are promptly paid instead of the usual practice of owing pensioners months or years allowances”.

Calling for massive support for Obaseki to finish strong by reelecting him, the group praised the administration for its laudable initiatives in tackling human trafficking, create wealth, and provide opportunities for youths to learn skills to improve their livelihoods. It also hailed the government for rebuilding Blocks C and D at the Secretariat Complex and the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium; constructing the John Oyegun Training Institute, initiating and completing the Judges’ Quarters, and delivering the CCETC-Ossiomo Power Project, among others.