By Sule Oyofo
From today, September 9, 2020, to Sunday, September 13, we shall be running a blistering serial on why Edo State must not be allowed to fall into wrong hands anymore. The serial will be based on facts on the ground that we so much overlook; this is coming timely since we seem to display such habit as though life is “business as usual”. But this is not so and that is why so much grounds have been lost in developing our nascent democracy. It’s been almost 21 good years democracy was ushered in and Edo State still remains in abject poverty and darkness. Of those 21 good years, Comrade Adams Oshiomole was in direct control for eight straight years and remains in contention five years after via proxy. The heat and tension generated during these sad times were enough to temporarily divert people’s attention from the issues at stake. While Oshiomole capitalized on the huge opportunity that fell on his laps to build his empire and turn himself into an emperor, the people wallowed in poverty and the State stagnated. Individuals with access to him sprang up and like it was in the days of the Igbinedions began to amass illicit wealth and live large –all at the expense of the State. From a distance, we watched as the once beautiful structures of State; the pride of the late Ogbemudias’ such as Edo Line (Midwest line), Edo City Transport services were left to deteriorate—or simply abandoned. Today, transport services are paralyzed and Edo State citizens are left to rue their fate. Visit the Edo City Transport service location in Aduwawa and there you will find virtually all the second-hand buses acquired by Oshiomole—at huge expenses– grounded. The Benin Specialists Hospital, where in the past, many people used to enjoy health services and care, was not spared. That Institution remains in comatose despite a so-called $75 million loan ostensibly to rehabilitate the moribund edifice. Move over to the roads; for many years the Aduwawa section of the State capital suffered neglect. Ramat Park became a sorry sight. Many wondered what kind of leadership would allow standards to drop to such abysmal level where potholes littered the road causing traffic gridlock and untold hardship. The usual logic has been it is either a Federal or NDDC road; the end result was that the people suffered. Another pathetic situation is the Benin-Auchi highway—which in our opinion represents the nadir of bad leadership– the absolute failure of governance! The road that used to be the symbol of safety—you could play that road even at odd hours—has now become the bastion of kidnapping, sudden death and misery. Tales emanating from victims of robbery, kidnapping can only be imagined than experienced. Travellers are being choked to death as a result of the inhuman treatment heaped on them by bad leadership. Oshiomole was in government for eight years and all he has to show for it is his Iyamho mansion, the University he hurriedly built opposite his sleazy enclave; the government mansion he fraudulently converted to his own in Okorotun Avenue, his Maitama mansions and his Aso drive masterpiece. Let’s forget about his extraordinary investments overseas and his open extravagance not to mention his braggadocio to the public. Worse, he is often unapologetic adding salt to injury where he is supposed to make concessions such as the Obaseki brouhaha. Now, long after democracy has established in Nigeria, we are being inundated with stories of arms stockpiling, importation of thugs, threats to life and property, clash of party supporters; this is absurd. There is bound to be a paradigm shift. It is time Oshiomole is put aside. The new generation of Edo State people cannot put up with this terrible attitude. Call it any name: September 19 should be the end of the road for this man who overrates himself. We need democracy—not autocracy—or dictatorship.
