Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has emphasized the importance of a high level of citizens’ involvement in governance and in adequately marketing the State to the outside world.
He gave the charge during the “EDSG Thought Leadership Series”, with the theme: “Driving Investments to Build the Edo of our Dream,” at Government House, Benin City.
According to the Governor, the event was organized to reflect on the rationale behind the ongoing reforms in the public and civil service.
He said: “Government is about people. People come together to create a government to protect them, to provide law and order for them so that they in turn can undertake their daily productive activities for their sustenance. That’s the purpose for which the government is formed.
“If we don’t have people who say they want government; if we don’t have people that want protection, then you will live in a state of anarchy. So every society, every community evolves into one which creates a government of some type to help organize how people conduct themselves in the communities or society.”
Speaking on the abundant resources in the State, Obaseki urged Edo people to speak well of the State as this will make others see it in a good light and be interested in visiting the State for investment and relaxation purposes.
“The way we communicate our ‘Edoness’ is important, and it has to be how we make people see it; how we make the citizens see the government.
“People have a reason to be angry. Many people are very angry about Nigeria. So sometimes, they don’t even see when efforts are being made to change things. That we must try and change”, he said.
He highlighted some economic challenges bedeviling the nation as; inflation, Foreign Exchange pressures, Government Policies: Import and Monetary; ageing infrastructure: Roads, bridges, ports (air and sea), public buildings; Crude oil prices (positive and negative implications), amongst others.
