The Admin of one of the WhatsApp groups I belong to – Esanmobilebarrackproject, has been dropping many disturbing videos and pictures in the last few weeks – all pointing to an abysmal failure of government both at the State and Local Government levels, particularly in Esan Land.
After looking through some of those videos this morning, October 3rd, 2024, I’ve decided to pen a few words to whom it may concern.
Weeks ago, we had Gubernatorial elections in Edo State. For me, it was a case of being between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I had no worthy candidate in that elections. Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Dr. Asue Ighodalo or Sen. Monday Okpebholo, as human beings. But they came with too much baggage.
On the one hand, Dr. Ighodalo rode on the wings of Godwin Obaseki, a Governor who failed woefully in many ways, especially in Esan Land.
Under his watch, State and Federal roads deteriorated abysmally, to the point that roads in towns and villages in Ekpoma, Irrua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Ewohimi, and many others became death traps to both motorists and pedestrians.
For the most part of the years he was in office, communities like Urohi, Ugbiyokho, Ukpogo, Emuhi, Ahia, Udakpa, Oria, Onogholo, Illushi and many others were thrown into utter darkness; without electricity for decades.
During his tenure, kidnappers ravaged our forests, killed some, raped others, collected ransom from many more, with little or no resistance from the state. Security became a private affair as many sought ways to protect their families from killer herdsmen and rogue security operatives.
Within the last eight years, herdsmen moved around freely, destroying the lands and crops of hardworking farmers, who all the while struggled to make ends meet without adequate farming interventions and grants from the state.
Health facilties received minimal face-lift, and only primary schools enjoyed free quality education. The State owned Tertiary Institution had so many woes, it was a miracle that it kept functioning. Those who wanted to intervene in the educational system to aid it were rebuffed and discouraged.
Sen. Monday Okpebholo on the other hand rode on the ‘goodwill’ of a party that has completely destroyed the country with remarkable ineptitude at almost every level. Facts don’t lie.
To worsen the situation, he didn’t sufficiently come across as one who understood the issues, with a clear plan on how to deftly navigate the troubled waters that Edo State has become.
Beyond being a great philanthropist, good governance is about delving deeper into the political and institutional processes and outcomes that are necessary to achieve the goals of DEVELOPMENT. So far, I’ve not seen the road map to achieving this development in Edo State.
After all, the true test of ‘good’ governance is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights – all of which are almost non existent in Nigeria.
Dr. Olumide Akpata and Labour Party ignored the gentleman agreement of zoning and contested at the wrong time. To worsen the situation, they chose a running mate from Edo North.
In another clime, this wouldn’t matter. But seeing as the democracy we practice in Nigeria is debased, one must call a spade a spade, and read the handwriting on the wall.
Nonetheless, now that there’s a new Governor Elect, there is need to reconcile all aggrieved parties in Edo State and deliver on the campaign promises made.
The best way to do this is to face insecurity head on, provide good health care facilities and personnel at all levels, empower small and medium scale businesses with adequate financing, provide good access roads and other relevant facilities, especially in the rural communities, declare a state of emergency on power, and make sure that all appointments are by merit.
Anyone who cannot do this has no business being Governor.
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© Oselumhense Anetor, 2024
