COMRADE Adams Oshiomhole made a great statement during the electioneering period while canvassing support for the All Progressives Congress Candidates in Edo State. He did say that Edos should vote for the APC candidates and he would in turn give his all in the service of the people.
Gladly, Edo people did not disappoint him, our people responded positively and voted for the APC all the way except in some areas where the opposition played some funny games which are currently pending at the election petitions tribunal.
One therefore assumes that Comrade Oshiomhole is set to give his all to Edo people as promised and he needs to be helped to achieve this goal. By being a Comrade Governor, one knows that we might have had governors in the past who were not comrades in some situations or circumstances. To be an comrade Governor espouses the full authority and prestige of the institution he symbolises. With the entire state as his constituency, the comrade governor is above partisan and parochial interests.
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has in the past six years demonstrated that he has all it takes to move Edo and his people to the next level through the urban renewal and massive infrastructural developments scattered across the three senatorial districts of the state without any form of bias for any of the areas.
Another seeming positive echo coming from Comrade Adams Oshiomhole , reported in the media is his request for a reduction of the 2015 Appropriation Budget to reflect recent economic realities. This reduction in budget may also mean reduction in overhead costs and tighter fiscal policies for citizens. The economic realities of our society demand austere living on the part of all. There are daily reports of unpaid salaries and wages in many states, of the federation, Sadly, those unfortunate Nigerians shop in the same markets and have families who deserve to be as happy as their privileged compatriots such as Edo State where workers have continued to receive their salaries as at when due without any hiccups since Comrade Adams Oshiomhole assumed office. Many thanks to the foresightedness of the Comrade Governor. He has made salaries of Edo workers a top priority of the APC administration in Edo state without any one telling him to do so. Workers of Edo State need to rally round his administration with their unalloyed and unflinching support.
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress has not hidden its intensions to do things differently in Edo State and the Comrade Governor is providing the leadership to get this through. The APC therefore, has no excuse not to fulfill its promises of giving our all because the party controls the majority in the Edo State House of Assembly which the Comrade Governor has proclaimed. There are also positive signals coming from the Comrade Governor that there will be equity and fairness in political appointments and election of Principal officers in the state. We expect the new House of Assembly to emulate this from the Governor. This alone would give every segment of society in Edo state a sense of belonging and would contribute positively to societal advancement, peace and harmony.
The new Edo State House of Assembly members must succumb to the economic realities of our country today, without any goading or persuasion. They should collectively resolve to prune down their financial excesses and be patriots rather than be economic saprophytes and parasites of the state.
Interestingly, Edo people are today a lot more sophisticated, knowledgeable and politically conscious than they were in the past years, thanks to the power of communication and our rich tradition and cultural heritage. They are aware of the electoral promises made by all assembly men who were elected on the platform of the two leading political parties in the state and are ready to take them on these promises. Unfortunately, the economic climate in the country, not the least because of past corruption and maladministration as well as continuous fall in price of crude oil, does not quite favour the present administration. This is why the public’s patience and understanding is needed.
Good enough Comrade Oshiomhole started well with Internally Generated Revenue which has put it ahead of many states who still wait for monthly allocation from Abuja before embarking on public service and are consequently languishing. Edo citizens must be up and doing in paying their taxes, levies and rates to government as their civic duties.
Happily, the state Government has in the past weeks been tackling areas perceived to be giving way for allegations of multiple taxation or revenue collection. Licenses are being revoked of revenue collectors who were abusing the process and causing unnecessary pains to citizens. Enforcement of the ban is ongoing and I am sure this would continue in the next weeks and days to come so that sanity would be put in the system. This would equally reduce leakages as the revenue boards have insisted that all payments be made to bank accounts and not in cash to any individual. Cooperation from every citizens is therefore required to enable our comrade governor keep his promise to Edo people.
* Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Edo State.
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
