Buhari visits Edo, commends Oshiomhole’s eight-year achievement

President Buhari has commended Edo State Governor Oshiomhole’s eight-year performance. Buhari, on a visit to the state, yesterday, commissioned a new ultra-modern hospital, noting he was “very impressed.”

“This is the best thing Oshiomhole has done for the people of Edo State, instead of building a new government house. We can see what some of the APC governors are doing, and we can compare it with other places,” he said.

At the commissioning of the six-lane Siluko road, Benin City, complete with streetlights, walkways and underground drains, the President said: “I thank the governor profusely for inviting me, not once, not twice, to come and share in his success. Personally, in the sense that he could have built a comfortable Government House and remain there, watching you sort things out the best way you could…otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to build this road.”

Oshiomhole said: “One of the things we have deliberately done is put our resources where they will have maximum impact on the lives of our people. For us, government’s responsibility is focus on those things that will deliver the greatest happiness to the greatest number of citizens in the shortest possible time.

“As you can see, this is not a GRA, but this road leads to where the real people are; the real forgotten majority. They are the ones we use for census purposes, so that we can attract revenue allocation. They are the ones who queue to vote, whether it is rainy or sunny, without whom we, democrats, cannot be in office.”

But oftentimes, when they have finished, they are forgotten until the next four years. We have tried to bond with them by addressing the critical areas of their needs. That informed the choice of this area.”

At the palace of the Benin monarch, Buhari congratulated Oba Ewuare II for his successful ascension to the throne. He expressed gratitude to the Oba for receiving him and his entourage.

Oba Ewuare II requested more federal presence in the state and reminded the President of the need to support the transformation of Gelegele Port into an export-processing zone. This, he said, would provide employment and contribute to the economic development of the state and the country.