HIS EXCELLENCY,<\/p>\n
THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR,<\/p>\n
EDO STATE,<\/p>\n
COMRADE ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE.<\/p>\n
Your Excellency Sir, best wishes to you and the good people of Edo State.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet the people lead\u201d, one of your many slogans in a bid to promote
\nfairness and transparency in governance supports the train of thought that
\nincites followers to becoming leaders in their own rights either actively
\nor passively.<\/p>\n
While the fat lady is going through her usual vocal routine therapy,
\npreparing to sing a closure to what can easily be referred to as the most
\ndefining tenure in Edo State\u2019s political history, one can\u2019t help but
\nreflect on the spectacular and stumpy moments in a bid to evaluate
\nover-all performance. There are those who are warming up their palms for a
\nround of thunderous \u2018claps\u2019, others are rehearsing frustrations and anger,
\nthen there is ME.<\/p>\n
It is inconsequential of what I want to do but I am just sitting inside
\nthe theatre knowing fully well the play is still on and the end holds as
\nmuch importance as the beginning and transitional scenes.<\/p>\n
It is commendable the way your government prioritized the construction and
\ntransformation of roads infrastructure stretched across the 3 geopolitical
\nzones in the last 86 months as Executive Governor. I understand more could
\nhave been done but I believe people who are still highly critical of your
\nleadership citing road infrastructure as a nail-head to hammer on, are
\nclearly suffering from selective amnesia.<\/p>\n
There is a pending debate on which tier of government impacts directly on
\nthe people, I believe each should be allowed to function with a
\nsignificant degree of autonomy and responsibility. Whether or not the 18
\nlocal governments were managed properly will be revealed in the next
\nadministration because I have refused to have an opinion based on shared
\nspeculations and counter-speculations.<\/p>\n
While concerns are being raised about the increased debt profile of the
\nState, it is easily understandable that borrowing is inevitable for
\nNigerian States to foster development but what is unacceptable is when the
\ndevelopment and impact is minimal.<\/p>\n
At a time when the price of crude oil is constantly hitting depreciating
\nvalues, States are being forced to diversify revenue base. This I find a
\nbit ironic for a State like Edo considering the debt ratio to IGR and
\nprojected federal revenues.\u00a0 Small and medium enterprises that ought to be
\nenthusiastically encouraged are going to have to deal with pain staking
\ntaxes just to keep the State afloat. A key fundamental to increased IGR is
\ncapacity building, which fuels economic activities as well as provide
\nopenings for new and active businesses. Sir as a matter of urgency, your
\nadministration in the next few months must focus on ways to vigorously
\ninvest in human capital.<\/p>\n
The issue of unemployment is easily attributed to the Federal Government
\nbut States with abundant mineral resources have also been caught napping
\nor better yet, sleeping on a bicycle over the past few years. The average
\nmonthly residual revenue after meeting recurrent expenditures for a State
\nlike Edo State makes it particularly difficult for the State government to
\nopen up sustainable employment channels. So when I drive around the
\ncapital city and see people harassing road users under the disguise of
\n\u2018Ministerial Task Force\u2019 or as they previously had, \u2018Oshiomole police\u2019, I
\njust think of what the future holds even for the so called employed ones.
\nI also understand a number of people in the past few years were absorbed
\ninto working in the Edo State government house with almost no designation
\nand yet salaries are to be paid.<\/p>\n
Your Excellency Sir, The presence or lack of functional industries has
\nalways been a contributing factor to the teeming case of unemployment in
\nthe State. Ok, let us ignore external contribution and investment, Edo
\nState known for it\u2019s robust cultural historical heritage and craftsmanship
\nis having generations of idle citizens with no significant skill. The last
\ntime a meaningful art and craft exhibition was held, I can\u2019t even
\nremember. Even the famous IGUE festival that is meant to portray a
\nlong-standing tradition is losing grounds. Discerning participation has
\nbecome the order of the day mainly due to negligence and shortage of
\n\u2018local\u2019 recognition. The Edo State arts and craft industry for example can
\nbe steered to rival the entertainment Industry in Lagos for additional
\nrevenue and to promote tourism.<\/p>\n
Digressing to our own local entertainment Industry that currently stands
\nas a gigantic gantry to showcase mediocrity, Information gathered shows
\nconsiderable support has been given to promote the industry. However,
\nindividual and institutional weakness with the too many myopic and
\nunproductive associations has constantly jeopardized your contributions.<\/p>\n
In this age of revenue diversification, It is non negotiable that priority
\nbe given to the Agricultural sector which unfortunately has received
\nmarginal provisions from your government in the last 7 years. We are
\ncurrently missing out on a possible 80,000 direct employment monthly that
\nis provided by this sector.<\/p>\n
Your Excellency Sir, I agree open letters are often critical, exasperating
\nand glory seeking but it should also be seen as a testament to freedom
\nwhere valid points can be freely drawn. I do not wish to push a certain
\nadverse narrative because I am also a firm admirer of your doggedness and
\nleadership stance.<\/p>\n
Conclusively, It is not too late to cement a lasting legacy by using your
\nlast few months in office to provide a blueprint for the next
\nadministration irrespective of who emerges governor. Are you going to
\nspiritedly send us to farms with incentives, develop art & craft centers,
\nencourage small businesses, increase human capital through effective
\nprograms, pay salaries, review policies OR are you going to act
\npredictably by hastened completion of pending road constructions,
\nrenovation of Central Hospital and other \u2018cosmetic\u2019 projects to promote
\nyour political party\u2019s candidacy in the forth coming gubernatorial
\nelections? I suggest you let posterity judge you fairly by your own deeds
\nrather than the inaction of whoever is destined to take over the mantle of
\nleadership. The onus is on you Mr. Governor to seize the opportunity to
\ndrive industrialization in other to stimulate economic growth as a
\ncorresponding exploit to complement past achievements.<\/p>\n
God bless you Sir,<\/p>\n
God bless Edo State,<\/p>\n
God bless Nigeria!<\/p>\n
Yours truly,<\/p>\n
Mr. Godwin Ojeaga<\/p>\n
Benin City, Edo State<\/p>\n