I read online, the letter of former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, to his supposed godson, the current Governor of the State (Godwill Obaseki) congratulating him on his election victory at the Supreme Court, while calling on him to reach out to everyone to move the State forward. 
I never knew Oshiomole (popularly called Oshioquake) to be that humble. How are the mighty fallen. But you will agree that it also shows leadership and strength of character.

We also know that in Nigeria politics, once a political Lilliputian defeats a political lion he turns him to a mere pussy cat. Abeg no laugh ooo. If only Oshiomole had listened to the voice of reasoning he probably would still have been calling the shots at APC national office today. I no know watin him take the voters for after all he told them about Ize-Iyamu in 2016. Well in all there’s also a lesson in humility for our leaders to learn from, to understand that power is transient.

Talking about transient nature of power, one would have expected the current Governor after being sworn in for a 2nd term, since 12th of November, 2020 to use the massive support he got at the polls and the loud No to godfatherism in the state to quickly kickstart the achievement of his campaign promises, anchored on 3 tripods - (employment generation, industrialization and infrastructural development) but for where, him still de speak English while his supporters are creating excuses for him. Even APC (almost dead in the state though) are having a laugh at the state PDP over it’s bickering with the Governor about appointments and party structures, and in some cases, houses of dissenting voices are demolished by the government under the guise of environmental control. Wahala be like church project e no de finish.

Presently, it’s taken the Governor almost seven months after swearing in to nominate his cabinet members, and Special Advisers. The State Judiciary headed by an acting Chief Judge is still awaiting confirmation. Even the State House of Assembly, contrary to the provisions of S. 91 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is wobbling on one leg with just 7 members out of 24. Emperor style of governance you would say. Imagine if Buhari had done same after his second term swearing in. Ahhhh, PDP for no let us hear word. Abeg where Kola Ologbodiyan sef? 

Most of the roads, like parts of Ekewan Road, parts of Textile Mill Road, Uwelu Road, Siloko Road, campaigned with by the Governor, till date are still in that state of disrepair with shabby finishing, almost one year after campaign. No fraud like campaign fraud for Nigeria sha.

As rich as the state is in terms of agriculture, there’s no single processing and/or value added manufacturing plant attracted to the state by the government to process the produce and also create employment for the teaming youthful population. No wonder we de carry first for Italy and yahoo yahoo. 

The only visible industries you see are the Chinese slave camps packing companies and the privately owned palm oil milling cottage companies, some of whom have taken over the once busy Textile Industry premises of the then Bendel State Textile Mills. Even the Saro farms that was set up with billions of naira by this administration never saw the light of the day. And we say most Nigerian Governors no mean, we lie, even Lucifer de envy them for wickedness. 

Talk about the two hundred thousand jobs promised by the Governor during his first term in office, that also is currently not visible either in private or public sector apart from political thuggery.

To say that public utilities, like pipe borne water is a mirage,is an understatement, as typical of every Nigerian state capital, water is supplied even to big homes that can’t afford borehole by Mai Ruwa, water sellers.

Bendel Feeds & Flour Mills, Bendel Brewery, Iyanomo Industrial Hub and all the industrial MOU's signed by the government are more visible in audio form than in reality, with premises overgrown by weeds. Even the Government’s annual Jamboree called Alagodaro which was supposed to help chart a way forward for the state has become an avenue for showcasing the government’s friends from outside the state and golf skills, than a telescope to look forward. I pray for that day we go truly not on “ghodaro” but move “odaro”

Which sector can one really boast of to exhibit good governance in my father’s state of Edo? In education, despite the EDOBEST program, most of the Colleges of Agriculture are under lock and key. Ambrose Alli University is shut down whilst Edo University is managing to go by as other public institutions now have to resort to prayers for their monthly subventions. The structures of most of the secondary schools are dilapidated. See Uhomora Grammar School. And if you talk of SUBEB that one go need a whole advocacy.

Even the campaign of continuity for where, as the government refused to continue with previous projects of a government he served as Chief Economic Adviser, talk about the Benin storm water project and the Specialist Hospital, after all the plenty noise. We are where we are. Apologies to Prof. Yemi Osibanjo. Most of our Governors are worse than armed bandits. 

If I mention civil servants, whose jobs have largely been taken over by consultants from Lagos, even though Edo no be Lagos, we no go comot here today. And if you dare to wake them to reality, they will show you a renovated stadium, Judges Quaters and state secretariat, as if that is all there is to good governance. Like play, like play, Edo don de carry last so, that is if the people gree sha.

I will therefore advocate, governance being about legacies, people should learn to vote and consistently remind their elected leaders of electoral promises made during campaigns and ensure they deliver on same.

Edo State being a gateway path from the north to the south, east to west, west to south south and East to north can benefit from its strategic location if only the people will not only shout "ogbane", but ensure that leaders are held accountable to make sure infrastructure promised "gbane" in reality. Government should remember, the earlier they begin to surround themselves with credible people rather than sycophants and praise singers and also begin to create industries or attract investment that will enhance sustainable development to the state through enabling environment and security, the better. otherwise soon the poor will have them and the rich for lunch. 

And as AGF (Advocate General of the Federation) my advocacy to you, Edo Youth is, remember, Appointing you as SSA to Governor on N150k monthly without a sustainable industrial growth plan will keep you perpetually poor, so that come every election year, you will help them shout a different slogan whilst your suffering continues.

If you like insult me, it doesn’t change the facts on ground which is worse than I have stated here.