If there is any truth in Edo 2024 – it is that GO worked, but he made mistakes along the way. The challenge in Edo 2024 is who can continue working like GO and do better, it’s that simple.
When Olumide Akpata spoke to Edo in London on his town hall meeting, the message was that he is the man to correct those mistakes.
The mis-prioritization of projects with the N16bn coming into Edo State every month is now the elephant in the room in Edo 2024 – not zoning, not party politics or any other conflict. The impact of N16bn a month on the life of the average Edolite across the 192 wards in Edo state is now the issue. Who makes the decisions?
The decision making to work for Edo people is why GO must be commended. The decision made on how to spend the money Edo receives is where he has shown his shortcomings. Edo should be spending, spending, spending on the basic necessities until we get it right- hunger, security, electricity, education, healthcare, roads, this is what Edo needs for the foreseeable future and the rest will fall into place.
The lack of any development in towns inside and outside Benin City in terms of all the factors mentioned above is something the labour party candidate is promising to change. Many places inside and outside of Benin still have no electricity, poor classrooms, no teachers, no health facilities, and communities are putting their monies together to pay teachers themselves etc. As governor of Edo State, Olumide Akpata said he would spend a week in each senatorial district and not just Osadebey Avenue like his predecessors, and this will also apply to all local government chairman which is why he supports the new local government law.
The basic things can be done and done better was his message to the Edo audience in London. If we have limited resources and spending them on Radisson hotel, fibreoptics cables, secretariat refurbishment and museums then we have our priorities wrong. We need to be spending our resource on alleviating hunger, providing security, electricity, education, healthcare and roads which will lead to employment for our people and attract investment etc.
When a candidate knows the cost of a bag of garri, the cost of a cup of rice etc- I learnt on Friday night in London that he does not need a manifesto because the audience attention was gripped as to how much understanding Olumide had of Edo peoples suffering and how he is explaining he would help them. He brought everyone down to earth with what really matters to Edo State indegenes. Olumide Akpata told the audience that the Edo people are forgotten, and we have been simply victims of bad governance for too long. One of the major things he will do if elected is to build an ICT university to help Edo children with technology and give them more opportunities in the modern world of today even if they decide to travel out or remain in the country.
I have been with Peter Obi when he came to London and now Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata. For once I have been able to see a clear distinction between Ideologies in Nigerian political parties. Those who understand Garri in the context of ethanol and those who understand Garri in the context of “soaking” are two different people. You must be intelligent and connected to the people’s sufferings to be in the labour party. They are for the people.
To avoid the enmity of politics that bedevilled Edos in 2020 we, writer, journalists, bloggers etc must remain objective and below is my submission.
As far as Edo is concerned, I like where we are in terms of governance, that Edo has seen now that we can do better. The mistakes of Godwin Obaseki have left room for someone else to come in and do better. That does not mean Godwin Obaseki did not work. The question is who can do better for the Edo people. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata’s London town hall has done him a lot of good in the eyes of Edo people in diaspora. He is definitely a capable option for Edos.
I have reached out to the APC to come and talk to the diaspora. If we cannot get any confirmation at the end of this week having seen Asue & Olu, I will decide who I will support and why.
The Editor.