Edo State

Edo State: Leadership redefined

Dikko A. Abbas

No Government Anywhere In The World That Survived Without

Taxation --- Oshiomhole

Ancient Edo State that was old Benin State before the creation of Delta State, has been governed by the Peoples Democratic Party for close to ten democratic years, since the returned of civil rule on 29, May, 1999, in the country, not until November, 2008, when the Appeal Court Benin Division, nullified the election of Professor Osunbhor of PDP and validated the election of Comrade Oshiomhole of AC as the duly elected governor. Immediately after that, things began to take a different dimension, a new leaf of governance was unveiled and, normalcy and respite was on course to be return to the citizenry of the state.

In his inaugural broadcast to the people of the state, no area or sector was left untouched, putting several people in and outside the state on suspense and the opposition said, he is only a dog that makes persistent bark but, cannot bite, in other words, he is one who makes too much noise but, cannot deliver. Since then, all eyes had been on him to see if he can proved his cynics wrong/right and-yes, who said he or it cannot be done because, all Nigerian leaders are presumed bad?

Yes, who said he cannot record any meaningful achievements because of the unprecedented level of rot in the system, time frame, merger resources, stiffer opposition, greed and selfishness? Today, Gov. Adams Oshiomhole has proved not only his cynics, colleagues but even the central government wrong, with a post six months budget that was more less one-third of his predecessor’s income, Oshiomhole was able to positively touched every sector of the state economy. However, people will be overwhelms to know what were the magical wands behind his success within a little time frame?

Nothing far from, improved and modified tax administration system, judicious and prioritized utilization of resources, moderately control corrupt environment, focus-ness and sincerity of purpose in addition to environmental acclimatization, knowledge of the people there-in and their primary needs.

In fact, Gov. Oshiomhole and Edo State was not the first to achieve such feet, Raji Fashola, Rotimi Ameachi of Lagos and Rivers States respectively, had long before now and still recording wonders in the art of leadership in this country and, the fact(s) behind it, is not far from the factors itemized above. Not enough, being two top leading states among the oil rich states in the country and the other, highly concentrated commercial nerve of the nation, yet, never rested in exploring other viable economic avenues for sustainability and empowerment of the their states, excluding other endowed and untapped natural resources because of technological factors.

However, this article came about as a result of the state of the affairs of the north it’s indeed, unfortunate and disheartening to note that to date, no any state governor from the end that can adequately measure-up with any of these three governors, even among the two terms governors probably, that of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, he too, may not be unconnected with the fact that, he has similar background like them. Another wonderful thing was, when our Universities closed shop for academic activities due to ASUU strike, none among them was able to use his number six and come-out with an idea that would bring to end the fracas considering largely, we are the more educationally backward in the country except Gov. Oshiomhole.

Today, the Institutions are opened to academic work and we much believe it will endure except if the federal government renegades from the all encompassing agreements. One continues to ponder what is/are the problems with our leadership? And, over a month from today, they all converged in Kaduna for a mega gathering to raise fund for Sir Ahmadu Bello memorial foundation in order to according to them sustain his values and legacies when they are all governors of their respective states like him, controlling all the oil revenues and the constitutional powers to their disposal.

This obviously, reminded one of an article written by Garba-Deen Mohammed in one of the Sunday trust newspaper long time ago titled: 3 revolutionary governors. The title was truly captivating therefore, when I saw it, I couldn’t resist the temptation to read the content, specifically to know who the governors were and what qualified them to be so. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the argument brought forward by the originator of the article because, nothing revolutionary was reflected in their action/performance. Whenever one hears the word revolution, what first came to ones mind is a radical change and wholesome transformation from the crude and timid method of doing things to the civilized and orderly manner which, in their case, was on the contrary?

With due respect and, to be candid and sincere, today, two out of these three revolutionary governors are, a slap to our democracy because, they failed to promote its healthier development, without good excuses, they throw away the political platform that brought them to power and decamped to the ruling party thereby, encouraging a one party state in this era of multi-party democracy the world over. One among them that was known to be a fine politician and respected democrat has now thrown his state into state of chaos and uncertainty. Only God knows what may be the state of things in the state come 2011 though, all over the country.

Several of such misgivings/guided-ness constitute the focal point of the northern governors administration therefore, one wonders, if finally the oil dried-up or the oil rich states achieved their agitation for resource control because, we are close to that today, what will be the poverty line in the north and of course, their position? And, if finally APRM that encourages good governance is signed into working document, how therefore, can the northern governors put it into practicable use or if MO Ibrahim foundation for good leadership award is brought down the level of our federating units in the country, how possible will it be for a governor of northern extraction wins such an award?

Similarly, one wonders why Kano State cannot rise to the challenges of being one among the leading commercial nerve in the country similar to Lagos State because it has all the criteria except sea. Or Kaduna State to provide services and beautification similar to that of garden city because it has all the requirements or Bauchi State to put aside its differences and provide exemplary leadership and understanding close to that of late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Or Sokoto State to as well, put its political feud aside, mobilize all its strength, improve its Jangali taxation system to generate enough in order to create good jobs for the idle minds that today became area boys in the state similar to that of Edo State or Niger State to redirect its resources to build a tourist destination center similar to that of Cross-Rivers State.

This should be our common ground not all these political mimicry and mediocrity, when others are moving forward to meet-up to the daunting challenges of new economic and social order the world over; our northern governors cannot even sustain the legacies left behind by our founding fathers.