IN the area of governance, the Comrade Governor has raised the bar in all its ramifications. Through creative governance and resourcefulness he has taken the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state to an all time high. From its previous level of N250 million per month to a hefty N1.3 billion as at August 2011.

And still pushing. Understandably this requires sacrifice by all and sundry. But people are generally willing because they can see what is being done with their money. Public primary schools have been renovated all over the state.

Secondary schools have received ‘extreme makeover’. The Central Hospital in Benin is being completely rebuilt from the ground up and will be entirely re-equipped and modernized after construction. Work is being done in scores of other hospitals in the land.

The amount of massive road rehabilitation, reconstruction, construction and drainage works going on virtually makes the entire state one huge construction site. Street lights have been installed along major roads. One hundred units of air-conditioned buses were introduced in one fell swoop for commuters.

The city centre Oba Ovonramen Square (formerly King’s Square), in the state capital, was given a complete face lift with the introduction of water fountains. It is now a place of beauty to behold as well as a tourist attraction and a relaxation center.

Markets have been re-built. The popular Agbado Market along Akpakpava Road is a typical example. So from schools to roads to hospitals to markets, name it, the Governor has succeeded in engineering relative, even development throughout the three senatorial districts of the state. He has simply set a very high standard in governance.

He has created a new benchmark. This is now the standard to beat. In other words, henceforth whoever wishes to occupy the Office of Governor of Edo State must be able to surpass this or at least match it. What that means to the people of Edo State, most importantly, is that henceforth it should be difficult for any charlatan without the capacity to deliver to present himself for governorship. Or any elective office for that matter.

This November Oshiomhole celebrates three years in office as Governor of Edo State. What does this mean? Beyond the popping champagne bottles, clinking wine glasses, sumptuous food and merriment – which is all well deserved – to me the third year anniversary symbolises the Adams Oshiomhole Revolution and its seriousness.

That it is not just a fluke. It is not just a flash in the pan. It is God ordained. In three years he has succeeded largely in turning the state around. He has given the state the ‘escape velocity’ to become a reference point. And he is not done yet. One believes the best is yet to come. There are some detractors who may wish to split hair and get into the ‘chicken-or-the-egg-which-came-first’ argument.

They may propose that Adams Oshiomhole was just being smart and tried to do some things to hoodwink the populace so that he will get re-elected. That is trite argument. But even if that were so then that is good enough anyway because things are getting done and development has come. But I think not. The man’s character speaks volumes.

It is innate in his character to perform, to achieve. He has translated governance simply to this: Providing the greatest quantity of good to the highest number of people in the shortest amount of time possible while laying the framework for increasing and sustaining these benefits for future generations. What he has done in governance is simply profound, almost indescribable.

Let’s look at it this way to grasp a better understanding. Because he has had to rectify the accumulated massive mess from before he has actually done the work of the past. Ordinarily that would have been enough to utterly consume the average person.

But thank God he was able to display sufficient dexterity and astuteness in handling the affairs of state to avoid getting caught in the roller coaster that could have easily become. But besides doing the work of the past, more importantly, he is also doing the work of the present to take care of the future. The man is on a mission. He works like there is no tomorrow.

So we find that the true position is actually the other way around from the insipid argument of detractors above. Namely, without particularly thinking of doing things to bamboozle people in order to be re-elected the man simply proved himself, achieved and performed awesomely.

And because the evidences of this huge excellent performance is there for all to see the people will vote massively for the man and re-elect him. That, folks, is the effect of the Adams Aliu Oshiomhole phenomenon.

Mr. FOSA AKENZUA, a commentator on national  issues, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.