APC National Leader and former Governor of Lagos State,  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has lauded the leadership qualities of  Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole describing him as a performer who has all it takes to rule the nation.
The APC National Leader disclosed this yesterday when he formally commissioned the six lane dualized new Lagos Road in Benin City, the Capital of Edo State.
He said, “I am proud to be here today with you on this good occasion. I am happy to be a witness to what true and quality leadership truly is. It is about performance and here, we have a performer. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is not a fake leader. He is authentic and has all it takes to rule this nation. Today’s project commissioning is for real”.
Tinubu added, “I always enjoy visiting Edo State. Each time I come, Your Governor shows me something new his government has done for the benefit of the state and its people. We have not come merely to commission this road but also we have come to celebrate the spirit of enlightened progressive governance which has become the hallmark of Governor Oshiomhole from his first day in office.
“This road would not have been constructed but for his belief and concern for people oriented policies. With this road, families can travel more easily and safely without fear of casualties as experienced in most of our roads in other parts of the nation.
“Now your cars will last longer. You will spend less on fuel and repairs. The money saved can be used to better the welfare of your family and your neighbors. This road will open up the social and economic activities of this environment, bring more revenue to property owners as well as enhance the aesthetics of this environment”, he said.
Tinubu continued, “Your fine work in Edo State shows the difference progressive governance can make. Today we are locked in a monumental battle for the soul and fate of the nation. We seek for progress and wellbeing for all Nigerians. Thus it is apt that we commission this road at this moment. These roads symbolizes better ways made possible by people oriented democratic governance”, he stressed.
In his address shortly before the commissioning, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said, “In choosing who to commission this road, we had no difficulty at all in arriving at the conclusion that it has to be the Asiwaju of Lagos.
“This road was a place that no one dares to pass in the afternoon because with the market, you can’t drive past this road, narrow road but very busy but as you can see a lot of modern buildings are here which shows that this was meant to be an upper class area.
Oshiomhole added, “I hope that our people have been able to notice that of all the roads we have constructed over the years, none of them have failed. When you compared this to what has happened in the past, when government starts constructing roads and before they get to the end, the first part is already failing.
“We insist that every road we construct not only in Benin City but across the state must have lateral base, stone base on top of the lateral base and then we have the binding cost and the wearing cost and in all cases, we must have drainage that flows from the primary through the secondary to the ultimate destination because part of the crisis of Benin city has been that government after government were unable to fix and find solution to the problem of drainage.
Oshiomhole lamented that the last time any government dealt with the problem of flooding in the state was during the military regime of Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia as Military Governor of Midwest State.
“Though some of the underground drainages are still there but as he left, that was the end of development of this great city. In Edo State, if I spend 10mins with Brigadier Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, 9 of those minutes will be spent on advice as to what I should do differently” he added.
Residents of the area who spoke on behalf of the community thanked the Governor for what he has done for the people in the area and the entire state and sued for sustenance saying that driving through the New Lagos Road axis before now was hell as the roads were completely unmotorable. Among those who spoke were, Mr. Albert Omoregie and Dr. Osagie Obayuwana.
Dignitaries from all walks of life graced the occasion amongst whom are; the Former Governor of Midwest Region and a Chieftain of the People Democratic Party, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Deputy Governor of Edo State,     Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu, members of the State House of Assembly, APC Chieftains,  and other top government functionaries.