The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged citizens to leave behind the politicking which took place during the electioneering campaign in the state and work with the government in realizing its Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) agenda, aimed at improving livelihoods and ensuring economic prosperity for all citizens.
Obaseki gave the charge while receiving new executive members of Ijaw Youths Council of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, who were on a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City.
The governor said his administration is focusing on education, healthcare and electricity, reassuring that everyone would be carried along in his government.
According to him, “The elections are over. I can’t permanently be in a political mood; now, we are in a development mood. We played politics so that we can have a government. We can’t continue to play politics for politics’ sake, but use the government to advance the course of the people.
“When it’s time to play politics, we play politics; but now it’s time for development and we are using the government to create opportunities for our people.”
Reassuring his administration’s commitment to ensure that development gets to Ijaw and all other communities in the state, the governor said, “I am keen on the economic development of the area, but we can only make progress when we are united.
“Political and ethnic harmony is important as it will allow you to speak in one voice and work together with the collective interest of uplifting the people.”
Obaseki said his administration is committed to reconstructing all access roads linking the area to open it up for economic development.
“We are currently working on the Ekenwan Road axis; we are in talks with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the termination of the Udo-Ofunama Road to enable us to take over and hopefully by this dry season, the contractor will be mobilized to site. We are also working in partnership with other bodies and putting resources together to build the road,” he noted.
Obaseki said the access roads will make the area accessible to tap from its huge economic opportunities, adding that aside from timber, the area is rich in gas, which can be exploited and used for industrial production.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Comr. Peter Toruwei, commended the governor for his fatherly role and support to the five clans of the Ijaw Nation, reaffirming their support and commitment to the success of the Governor Obaseki-led administration.
