Edo needs a competent, credible manager as governor says Obaseki

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 28 Edo governorship elections, Godwin Obaseki, has said that Edo State needs a competent, credible and hardworking governor to efficiently manage the state’s resources and effectively execute people-oriented programmes.

Obaseki said this yesterday at an interactive session with civil society organisations in Edo State. He noted that with declining oil revenues and the consequent reduction in federal allocation to states, fresh ideas are needed in the running of government today, and that diversifying the economy has become even more imperative to ensure sustainable growth and development.

According to him: “Edo State lost two generations to bad governance by the PDP and to ‘career politicians’. The political base can no longer be restricted to people with traditional political anthem; we now need to infuse fresh blood, thinking and resources into our politics, and that is what people like me came into the political scene to characterise.”

“Yes! I believe that I fit into that new paradigm of governance. With a successful career of over 30 years as an investment banker and wealth management expert, and the valuable experience I have garnered as Chairman of the State’s Economy & Strategy Team in the last eight years, I am very clear on the direction that we should be looking in order to move Edo State to the next level of infrastructural development, industrial growth and technological advancement.”

“Lagos has shown itself as a model, and I don’t see the reason why we can’t have other models in Nigeria, with Edo blazing the trail as a mini-sized Nigerian state that can survive as a country. To achieve this status, we require competent, credible and hardworking managers, and that is what I am.”

Obaseki urged civil society groups in the state to stay true to their cause as advocates for the entrenchment of good governance. “It is important that civil societies remain what they are meant to be.  That is, to serve as watchdogs for the government and as promoters of democratic values.”