The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has stated that he does not have any issues with his predecessor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole,
Obaseki stated this on Friday in Lagos during an interactive session with journalists.
He said during the course of his work, his administration had “attracted lots of political enemies” who want to use the opportunity to fight back.
He said at a point in Edo State, there were lots of thugs on the streets.
He said it got to a point where local governments could not generate money to pay workers’ salaries and market women were harassed to pay taxes, yet no revenue was coming in.
Obaseki said the insistence of his administration to scrap the thugs from the streets have generated lots of “kickbacks” from “political enemies”.
He narrated that his relationship with Oshiomhole dated back to 2006 when the former was the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and was contesting for election.
He said he was instrumental in helping the present APC National Chairman to form his team.
He reiterated that he came into politics because he wanted to “pay to serve” and not been paid to serve having been a successful businessman before becoming a politician.
He said Edo is the only state outside Lagos to get loans from the World Bank and since human trafficking in the state is giving everyone a major headache, the state government set up a task force and about 4,000 people who were repatriated, were introduced into a programme so that they can fit well in the society.
Obaseki further lamented that 10,000 to 15,000 persons leave Edo State every year and to fix the problem, the government decided to go back to ensuring that basic education in the state is effective.
He said this was based on the realisation that the “red roofing” which it did in the past was not enough.
He emphasized that there is a GPS in his office which enables him to know if a teacher is absent from school since each has a tablet that enables him or her to get scanned and tracked during school days.
He said 12,000 teachers have been trained so far.
On economic growth, Obaseki said Edo State ranks second after Lagos since it connects the west and the south together and also it is where the grid meets gas supply and the government had been able to build the biggest innovation hub in the South South.
He said Edo State also boasts of the largest fiber connection in Nigeria and one can get 80 per cent of materials used for building a house in the state and there are six Chinese companies in the state.
He buttressed that his administration has always paid salary on the 26th of the month and in any major holiday like Sallah, salaries are paid earlier.
Commenting on security, Obaseki said that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, used to be the AIG and with him the government, the police have been able to develop a framework to combat crime and criminals in the state.
On RUGA, he stated that the government sees it as a business opportunity, stating that protein is an important element in our life, particularly beef, but the state does not have land to give.
On the crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly, Obaseki said some members have not declared their assets and they wanted to be inaugurated, adding that nobody stopped any lawmaker from been inaugurated since they were duly elected by their people.
He said it is unconstitutional for the House of Representatives to give an ultimatum to the governor since the case is already in court.
The Eagle Online reports that the House of Representatives initially gave Governor Obaseki a one-week ultimatum to re-issue the proclamation for the inauguration of the House of Assembly.
The House, however, extended it to one month on Friday.
Obaseki stated this on Friday in Lagos during an interactive session with journalists.
He said during the course of his work, his administration had “attracted lots of political enemies” who want to use the opportunity to fight back.
He said at a point in Edo State, there were lots of thugs on the streets.
He said it got to a point where local governments could not generate money to pay workers’ salaries and market women were harassed to pay taxes, yet no revenue was coming in.
Obaseki said the insistence of his administration to scrap the thugs from the streets have generated lots of “kickbacks” from “political enemies”.
He narrated that his relationship with Oshiomhole dated back to 2006 when the former was the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and was contesting for election.
He said he was instrumental in helping the present APC National Chairman to form his team.
He reiterated that he came into politics because he wanted to “pay to serve” and not been paid to serve having been a successful businessman before becoming a politician.
He said Edo is the only state outside Lagos to get loans from the World Bank and since human trafficking in the state is giving everyone a major headache, the state government set up a task force and about 4,000 people who were repatriated, were introduced into a programme so that they can fit well in the society.
Obaseki further lamented that 10,000 to 15,000 persons leave Edo State every year and to fix the problem, the government decided to go back to ensuring that basic education in the state is effective.
He said this was based on the realisation that the “red roofing” which it did in the past was not enough.
He emphasized that there is a GPS in his office which enables him to know if a teacher is absent from school since each has a tablet that enables him or her to get scanned and tracked during school days.
He said 12,000 teachers have been trained so far.
On economic growth, Obaseki said Edo State ranks second after Lagos since it connects the west and the south together and also it is where the grid meets gas supply and the government had been able to build the biggest innovation hub in the South South.
He said Edo State also boasts of the largest fiber connection in Nigeria and one can get 80 per cent of materials used for building a house in the state and there are six Chinese companies in the state.
He buttressed that his administration has always paid salary on the 26th of the month and in any major holiday like Sallah, salaries are paid earlier.
Commenting on security, Obaseki said that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, used to be the AIG and with him the government, the police have been able to develop a framework to combat crime and criminals in the state.
On RUGA, he stated that the government sees it as a business opportunity, stating that protein is an important element in our life, particularly beef, but the state does not have land to give.
On the crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly, Obaseki said some members have not declared their assets and they wanted to be inaugurated, adding that nobody stopped any lawmaker from been inaugurated since they were duly elected by their people.
He said it is unconstitutional for the House of Representatives to give an ultimatum to the governor since the case is already in court.
The Eagle Online reports that the House of Representatives initially gave Governor Obaseki a one-week ultimatum to re-issue the proclamation for the inauguration of the House of Assembly.
The House, however, extended it to one month on Friday.