End of an era: I don’t want to be remembered for my fights, Obaseki pleads

The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has surrendered from the spate of ‘battles’ that characterised his eight years in office. 

Addressing a horde of reporters at the weekend on the sideline of the official launch of the Prestige Parks and Gardens located on the Airport Road, Benin City, Governor Obaseki said he will certainly not want to be remembered for his many ‘fights’. 

He also disclosed plans on ground to ensure the sustainability of the garden. However when asked how he will like to be remembered after his tenure he retorted, “certainly not for the fights,” apparently referring to the many political battles he fought against his political opponents and benefactors. 

On plans in the offing to sustain the project beyond his administration, he said, “when we thought about all these public spaces and how to manage them we also created a revenue model to support them. 

“For instance, all the revenue from  billboards around here will come into managing them and Prestige Hotel (a nearby hospitality concern) will also support in its sustainability. For community support, the military has promised to support in terms of security. 

“I believe in first doing the work before celebrating. We will try and commission as much but I don’t think we will be commissioning as much as 10 percent of what we have done and that is why the people came out and voted for us.

“I feel appreciated, the response from our people is quite commendable and no wonder people came out and voted for us the way they did. I can’t be tired of saying thank you for the opportunity to serve.”