BENIN FORUM SLAMS OSHIOMHOLE’S CRITICS

Adams-Oshiomhole

Leaders of Benin Forum have scored Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, high on in­frastructural development of the state.

The apex socio-political organisation in Edo State gave the score-card when its members led by the Esogban of Benin king­dom, Chief David Edebiri, joined Governor Oshiom­hole on an official inspec­tion of projects in Benin City.

Chief Edebiri, who marvelled at the level of reclamation of sites seized by the Queen Ede gully erosion, urged the opposition and other crit­ics of the state govern­ment to check out govern­ment projects so that they would be better informed about how the money that comes to Edo State is be­ing spent.

Edebiri said: “We have 12 wards in Oredo and I would love them to, one day, come and see this. Those critics – lame duck critics at home – let them come and see what is go­ing on here so that they may know that any money that comes to this state is for development and not wasted or appropriated to individual pockets.

“The work going on here is simply marvel­lous and I have asked that those lame duck critics in Benin City and elsewhere should be given the op­portunity to come and see this work. Only people with large heart can ven­ture into this type of work to salvage many people’s lives from imminent flood destruction.

“I am impressed and every good person will be impressed. It means that every penny that comes to this state is used for the benefit of the people and not what we used to have here in this state where few people appropriated public and state money as their own personal money. So, I thank the governor for doing what he is doing for the people of Edo State in general and for the resi­dents of Benin City in par­ticular.”

Also speaking, the Enogie of Evbuobanosa, Prof. Greg Akenzua said: “A lot of earthwork is be­ing done at Queen Ede Erosion site. As you can see, many of the homes there have been restored and the people are quite happy with the governor as he has brought happi­ness to them; he has saved their homes. We really must commend the gover­nor for his courage.”

At Upper Siluko, which was hitherto devastated by flood, Prof. Akenzua said: “We can see that a lot of money has been spent here. Those who knew the difficulty of this terrain will appreciate this. Many people had abandoned their houses because of the flood; now they are all returning and the Teach­ers House was notorious for the flood water that used to be here. It was not passable. But now, look at the road, quite solid and the drains are wide and the place is dry. We are very happy. The people in the neighbourhood are all cheering as we appeared.”

On his part, one-time Minister of Science Tech­nology and former Vice Chancellor of the Uni­versity of Jos, Prof. Em­manuel Emovon, said: “Oshiomhole is doing marvellously well and we will support him in every way. He is a saviour to most areas of Benin. He has done extremely well and anybody who thinks Oshiomhole hasn’t done well would have to exam­ine his head.”

A resident of the Queen Ede area, Mrs. Grace Osawe, said: “He has tried and did a lot in Benin. He repaired our roads; re­paired our place. I almost left this place if not for Os­hiomhole. May God lift up Oshiomhole and he will continue to reign.”

Also, Mrs. Mary Omoruyi said: “Whoever said Oshiomhole is not good is the bad person. Unlike before him, he uses the money that comes to the state to work for us and not share it among some individuals. If not for his intervention, this place was almost lost to flood and erosion.”

Other members of the Benin Forum on the tour include Prof. Dennis Ag­bonlahor, Mr. Daniel In­neh, Dr. Nosa Aladeselu, Col. Paul Ogbebor (rtd) and Prof. Princess (Mrs.) Adesuwa Emovon.