Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has stated that he looks like a fool when he discovered that during the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole administration(2008 – 2016) while he was arranging finances and organising things he did not realise that the money he was raising for the state where been frittered away.
He made the revelation last weekend on the occasion of the get together party organised to honour the newly elected Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the south south, Chief Dan Orbih, which was held inside the expansive mansion of late Chief Tony Anenih in GRA, Benin City.
He told the party faithfuls at the party, mostly from Edo and the neighbouring Delta State, that the last one year has been problematic for his administration as a result of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.
“The last one year has been difficult. What’s the most difficult thing is that we have not been able to come out and do what we know how to do best – mobilise for development.
“But by the grace of God we are witnessing the end of this rave of covid. This week, we have not had any new case of covid. This week, we have started vaccinating our people and by the grace of God we have conquered covid in Edo State.
“So, now is a time to resume activities. Today’s occasion is very significant. We are celebrating the chairman of our party in our zone(south south), who happens to be our own son, Chief Dan Orbih.”
After showering praises on Tony Anenih Jnr, the Organising Secretary of PDP in Edo State, who organised the epoch event, Governor Obaseki turned to Chief Orbih and gave him a tall order, to ensure that the south south zone produce the President of Nigeria in 2023.
“Edo State, the south south and Nigeria is going through a very significant time. That’s why as chairman of the zone we expect that you’ll deliver the Presidency of Nigeria to the zone. This is the only zone where all the states belong to one party, PDP.
“This is the zone that has not completed its tenure. We have a minimum of one more term and they must give us in 2023.”
He charged Chief Orbih to gear up for the task ahead, “we are giving you that assignment that you must to go round Nigeria; you must go round the zone and make them understand that we cannot be cheated. The Presidency must return to the south south.”
On the situation in Edo State, Governor Obaseki said: “As for Edo State the state must move forward. As you know I am one person that don’t like to look back. I like to look forward. But we are facing some serious issues which we cannot ignore.
“Yes, I was part of that administration (2008 – 2016). I believe that Edo must be developed. So, I sacrificed my time, eight years, to help organise the state. I went to the World Bank to raise money for this state to develop.
“But from what I am seeing in the books I look like a fool. That whereas I was arranging finances, I was organising things I did not realise that the money I was raising for the state were been frittered away.
“I don’t like probing. I like to move forward. But it has become very difficult because when I look at some of the contracts I have awarded in 2020, look at the cost of those contracts, the extent of those contracts and I compare whàt was done ten years earlier people have questions to answer.”
Going further, he said: “Edo people must be told how we awarded 200million dollar contract ten years ago and we have paid every month for that contract and it is still not finished. Edo people must be told how a project that was supposed to remove the flood, deflood Edo, deflood Benin City, created more flood.”
On the Edo Specialist Hospital, Governor Obaseki said: “You cannot do something wrong and be the first to be shouting that something is wrong because you don’t want people to know what you did wrong.
“I didn’t raise any issue. I wasn’t the one that talked about the hospital. They started making videos on social media accusing me of something I did not do. So, we set up a panel to tell what really happened. Now, the panel has told us they are going to court to try and stop us from taking action according to the report.
“But it is only a question of time. People who did things wrong for Edo people must be held accountable.”
Earlier, Chief Dan Orbih had appealed to Governor Obaseki to ensure that he gets to the root of the reasons for the various abandoned projects in the state, adding that prosterity will blame him if he doesn’t.
He appealed for unity among the members of the party as the new PDP administration in the state led by Governor Godwin Obaseki is one that has come to move the state to enviable heights.
