The Edo state government today (Tuesday) marked its fifth anniversary under the leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Top members of the party including General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bisi Akande, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, Audu Ogbeh and Alhaji Lai Mohammed among others stormed Benin City to celebrate with the administration.
The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was filled to capacity at a rally to mark the anniversary, as the governor assured the people that his administration would focus on the economy in his second term.
Addressing the crowd, Oshiomhole said: “The challenge is to focus on the economy. Having spent so much to build infrastructure, this is meant to create enabling environment for business to thrive”.
He noted that the private sector, from agriculture to palm oil, they are all coming to Edo State to set up business.
He said his administration “Over the past three days, we have commissioned five roads and the five junctions and we have more than 100 projects to commission between now and December. You will see all the things that we have been doing with your money” adding that “Between November last year and November this year, we have paid to major contractors about N36 billion for road construction, schools construction and hospital construction and we recognize that our allocation from Abuja is barely over N4 billion”.
He insisted that “relying on the federation account will not bring development and the responsibility of government goes beyond going to Abuja to collect a cheque and coming back home to pay salaries”.
He further maintained that “From Edo South to North to Central, our people are witnessing new roads, new schools, new health centres” also adding that.“In Esanland, where they told us water is impossible, as we speak they are fetching water in Ekpoma”.
“Everything they said was impossible, your steward, guided by your leader, we are delivering.” He said.
In a good will message, the Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chef Bisi Akande, said Edo State people had always wanted to be counted among the progressives.
On his part, the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said Oshiomhole has made a change in the state.
He said: “Five years ago, Oshiomhole won the election and made the people the cornerstone of his development. Ever since he started, he has not looked back. Today, we have witnessed a phenomenal development in Edo State.” He noted.
General Muhammadu Buhari on his part said the people of Edo State have witnessed five years of tremendous development, now know the difference and the people outside have also seen the difference.
He said the APC is determined to come and secure Nigeria so that people can move, adding that the APC is also determined to stop terrorism and kidnapping when it assumes power at the centre.