APC Tackles Obaseki Over NIIA Guest Lecture

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC ), yesterday, took on the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, over the Guest Lecture he delivered at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, advising him to concentrate on fulfilling his re-election campaign promises to the people and stop indulging in self-adulation.

The governor had in the lecture on Tuesday praised himself as a successful administrator.

But the APC in a statement signed by its Assistant State Publicity Secretary, Victor Osehobo, said Edo people are worried about such feedback of chest-beating by Mr Obaseki that his almost six-year-old administration has done exceedingly well.

The party said that rather than tell his audience some bitter home-truths that the major pillars of his administration which includes signing of frivolous MoUs and entering into dubious partnerships with all comers, are not working, the governor embarked on reeling out a long list of failures and even congratulating himself on how well the lot of Edo has improved.

“Following the Lecture that Governor Obaseki delivered at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, we are concerned with the feedback of chest-beating that his six-year-old administration has done well.

“Rather than tell himself some bitter home-truths that his policies and programmes are not working, the governor embarked on self-glorification of how well he has managed the Affairs of Edo State.

‘‘As it has become customary for Governor Obaseki to travel to Lagos periodically to whitewash his administration, we owe it to posterity to let the governor know our candid assessment.

“The government entered its fifth year in office with an unattainable MEGA theme that will focus on how to use governance to support Edo people, create enabling business environment so that Edo people can do their business without being harassed. But the reverse is the case. Official thugs are all over Edo state, harassing innocent citizens, all in the name of collecting taxes.

“As it stands today, the average Edo person is tired of the Mr Obaseki-led PDP government because of its failed promises, multiple taxations including promotion of street trading with daily levies of all actors, inadequate funding of tertiary educational institutions and shutting them down, demolition of private and public properties, kidnapping of citizens and the violent activities of bandits masquerading as herders among others.

“Edo state debt has more than doubled on the domestic front while on the international scene the state under Governor Obaseki has turned the state into the most foreign indebted in the country.

“Public schools have no teachers while many of them lack basic materials like desks and chairs as government bandies its failed hype of an education programme it calls Edobest everywhere.

“The audience who are familiar with the scenario in Edo State must have been taken aback no doubt, as they listened to Mr Obaseki who has personalized governance in Edo state pontificating about a properly functioning democracy.

“It is funny that Mr Obaseki claimed that for him democracy should be people centred by providing basic social and economic goods, such as roads, portable water, and improved education, while providing the right of groups and individuals to hold their governments accountable, yet he crippled the State legislature, constitutionally charged with this duty”, the statement said.

The APC further contended that “rather than this exercise of a dishonest pat on the back, what Mr Obaseki should have given his audience is an honest self-appraisal, a plea for forgiveness from Edo people, for promising more than his capacity, and genuine willingness democracy.

“It is funny that Mr Obaseki claimed that for him democracy should be people centred by providing basic social and economic goods, such as roads, portable water, and improved education, while providing the right of groups and individuals to hold their governments accountable, yet he crippled the State legislature, constitutionally charged with this duty”, the statement said.

The APC further contended that “rather than this exercise of a dishonest pat on the back, what Mr Obaseki should have given his audience is an honest self-appraisal, a plea for forgiveness from Edo people, for promising more than his capacity, and genuine willingness to retrace his faltering steps”.