The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state.
He made the promise after his inauguration into office on Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
He asserted that “the welfare of our citizens is top priority for us. To achieve this, we shall implement programmes, carefully outlined in my Five-point agenda, designed to grow a robust economic growth and improve the lives of our people.”
He listed the programmes as security; infrastructure and road development; affordable healthcare; water and food Sufficiency and value-driven Education across the state.
Going further, he said: “For a long time now, our people have become victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes. To end this ugly situation, we will be firm in dealing with criminals and improve the Security of our land, so that farming and other business activities will flourish again.
“The deplorable condition of our roads has made it difficult for people to move from one part of the State to another. Our policy to develop Road Infrastructure is targeted at constructing roads, drainages and bridges, to ease transportation for all. We shall immediately commence work to make the roads passable again.”
He affirmed that his administration is also ready to partner with the federal government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, those in diaspora, and other stakeholders, to develop the state across all sectors.
“My administration shall support small businesses and market women with soft loans. Our teeming youthful population will not be left out. We shall support them to acquire relevant skills for self-empowerment,” he submitted.
On education, he disclosed: “My administration shall immediately swing into action to recruit teachers and rebuild the deplorable classrooms. Tertiary education will be strengthened in many ways too, to ensure quality education.”
On power, he said that his administration is ready to link communities that have not yet been connected to the national grid, to ensure that they have electricity.
On traditional institutions, he promised that they “shall be given the necessary support to play their role as custodians of our rich cultural heritage” adding “it is in recognition of this that my administration shall support the decision of the Federal Government to uphold the Oba of Benin as the exclusive owner of the returned artefacts, that were looted away by British Colonial Forces during the Benin Massacre of 1897.”
Discussion about this post