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Osunde Osaigbovo Massy, a dogged blogger " CRUSADERHOTNEWS" Who Hails From Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Ugo in Edo State to be presicesly, He is appealing to the good people of Edo state to stand and support Governor Godwin Obaseki That, the Governor mean well for Edo people.
It is not every time that we have had course to write about an individual singing praise of his exemplary leadership in the corridors of government.
But as patriotic Nigerians and of course, amongst the country’s leaders of thought, we felt the need to appreciate a good outing of a State Governor, emphasize the relevance of doing the right thing by our political leaders and the importance of advancing on the exemplary dispensation of our own governor Godwin Obaseki.
It is often said that the best way to understand the actions of any individuals (that is the reason behind observed behavioural pattern), is to find out the ‘motives’. Once motive is known, the individual’s actions are better understood.
Then one would decide if such an individual is someone of integrity that can be trusted or not, with every word that comes out of his/her mouth.
Hence, when we look at the ‘motives’ behind every actions/inactions of our Nigerian Politicians as leaders in government circles, we are often left bewildered and disappointed.
Most of our political leaders, who are fond of making promises they end up not keeping, are the reason why Nigeria, despite its enormous human and natural resources is bedeviled with a baggage of problems that have left us in a deplorable status as a ‘developing nation’.
It is simply because, the true ‘motives’ of most typical Nigerian politicians, is never about ‘selfless service,’ neither is it about transformation and economic elevation of the citizenry.
That is why we are glad when someone like Godwin Obaseki, has proven to be an exception.
Governor Godwin Obaseki sustain his interventions in schools and hospitals as well as attract people in the Diaspora and other investors to set up businesses in the state.
Many have argued that perhaps, one of the reason for Obaseki ’s success story was hinged on the tedious manner in which he ascended to power.
This made him not somewhat ‘answerable’ to any political godfather or group like we see with most Nigerian politicians. But we believe Obaseki's success story goes far beyond that.
It has to do with his character as a person and his imbibed values over the years as an individual.
If you have the right values as a person, it does not hide neither will you find it easy to do something contrary to such values.
What really caught our attention was what he gave as reasons for ‘early’ retirement from active politics in Nigeria, especially when we considered the fact that this is Nigeria, where politics and the political circle is seen as an avenue to accumulate wealth and change ones economic status for life.
Hence, we still have so called past political leaders and elder statesmen who, rather than leave the corridors of power for the younger generation, still prefer to remain and die in the political scene so as to maintain their ill-gotten wealth by all means necessary.
In the words of governor Obaseki, when he was asked what his plan in politics is after his current tenure, he expressed that; “for me, I have come to make a positive change in Edo and Nigeria as a whole, continuation is accepted.
The level of greed in Nigeria is overwhelming. Where people cannot see the suffering of other people. They are just accumulating wealth, for me, it is time to change the orientation.
“I wonder why one person should own a house in Ikoyo, Asokoro, Dubai and he is not using them for anything, people accumulate what they do not need, it is madness, the level of greed in Nigeria is intolerable.
I want all of us to be praying for Nigeria, so that God will touch the heart of our leaders to use public money for the people.
In Edo State, we have never borrowed money despite all the works we are doing.”
It is with these words of lamentation that the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; made known to the public of his retirement from active politics at the end of his current tenure.
He said he would like to use the remaining part of his life to serve humanity in other spheres where God would want to use him.
The governor, who was quite emotional, lamented the level of financial waste in government, stressing that “the cost of running a governor’s office in Nigeria is too much.
Godwin Obaseki is one governor who never believed in “paying people for doing nothing”, like we find most State Governors and Federal Officials doing today.
In other words, Obaseki does not pay sycophants, godfathers, praise singers, media hypes, solidarity visitors etc, like we find most government officials doing just to remain/sustain their false public image of a ‘working public servant’.
Obaseki is a governor who believe every penny of state funds should be used for the good of the people and nothing else.
I even doubt that anyone would like to put the man with arthritis on his fingers in the bureaucracy of finance in an election year.”
Meanwhile, another public affairs analyst from Edo axis noted in the report that: “
It is not true that Governor Obaseki does not spend money; he does on good causes and relevant projects.
But he does not settle idle people and godfathers who have nothing to offer the state.”
At the State level, governor Obaseki had the power to make a positive difference as he had the power to decide how and what state funds are to be used for.
But the situation will be different at the Presidency level.
We have had well respected technocrats and public officials who, before their ascension to the Presidency, were men and women of proven integrity, accountability and transparency.
This coming election victory will give Governor Obaseki an additional four years as the governor of Edo State 4+4=8 Torgba.
Even with vipers and struggles all around him, Obaseki as governor in Edo State; He build roads, bridges, school blocks; refurbishing schools, hospital and dilapidated government structures.
Many of his critics could not get themselves to acknowledge it.
Some even called him reckless and said that he wanted to empty the treasury before he leaves office.
At a time when his mates are buying private jets, flying first class, owning properties in Dubai and all over the world, stashing billions in Swiss banks, building mansions all over Nigeria and buying exotic cars/jeeps for their girlfriends and sycophants; he was investing state funds and making returns into their treasury.
Among other things, Obaseki partnered with private bodies and religious organizations to get the hospitals back on their feet; attracted and invested Edo's money in industries and others.
Edo educational system also went through a transformation; missionary schools were returned to those concerned to administer while the state pays salaries.
He inter-connected all Edo roads accounting for over thousands kilometers of roads.
The forgotten towns in Edo state that could only travel home by canoes and boats are praising him for constructing their roads and bridges and giving them the sense of belonging and opening up their areas to ready markets where they could sell their farm produce.
Now that it is obvious he had invested it, those in opposition are saying that he funneled state money to his private business. But they fail to realize that Obaseki was already a success as a ‘private businessman’ before venturing into politics. Hence, he went there to serve and not accumulate/misappropriate.
These investments he embarked on are generating and would still generate more money for the state and create more job opportunities for the state.
Obaseki kept working for Edo despite the political crisis that surrounds him.
His colleagues in other states use their First term to steal public funds, make friends with criminals that would assist them launder the funds and virtually become a lame duck governor, but he refused to toe that path to ignominy.
These are the sort of political leaders that deserve National Honours and Centenary Awards, unlike what we witnessed recently.
We truly admire Godwin Obaseki as an individual as a public servant.
His style of governance and accountability are worthy traits.
He is not a ‘media freak’ like some governors who use the media to project ‘false image’ of their inept administration.
Obaseki was even ‘publicity shy’, but rather his works spoke volumes for him.
Obaseki did not leave his State bankrupt, but rather he left behind and he will still continue a “thriving State on the path to more economic growth and development.”
We believe that all existing and incoming State Governors across the country should emulate Obaseki and the admirable legacy he is putting on ground in Edo State.
Let our political ‘serve’ the people and not expect to be 'served'
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