WITH his formal swearing-in on Saturday, Mr. Godwin Enogheghase Obaseki  assumed the mantle of leadership  as the governor of Edo State and by implication, the political leader of Edo people. He was duly elected by the electorate at the September 28, 2016 governorship poll.

Clearly, Mr. Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Phillip Shaibu are taking off from where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole let off from a vantage position and on a good note. Edo people are  glad that the governor re-assured them that they are going to complete all on-going projects. That is very important because, one of the biggest problems in our national development is that once a new government comes on board, he abandons all on-going projects embarked upon by his predecessor and starts new ones all together and you want to wonder if the projects started by his predecessor were not located in the state he is governing. This explains why the decision of Mr.  Obaseki to complete all on-going projects is not just a welcome development but  a laudable  break from the past. This is the main benefit  and real meaning of continuity  in the real sense of the word as far as political governance  is concerned.

It  was equally  cherry to hear Mr. Obaseki reassure Edo people that his government will create 200,000 jobs within his first four years to arrest the growing army of unemployed youths in the state and put them to  positive engagement in the agricultural sector and agro-allied industries that will also develop the value chain. He also assured of  full employment in the  State Civil Service because government bureaucracy remains the engine of development of the state anywhere in the world.

Also, the decision to scale up  infrastructural development such as roads, schools, hospitals, and water supply is most commendable. The state is still in dire need of most basic infrastructure. Obaseki should not go into six-lane road construction as did the immediate past administration. Just a dual carriage way to link many communities in Benin City is important because Benin is fast expanding into a mega city.  Roads such as Evbuotubu and all the communities in Egor, Aruogba in Oredo, Upper Oko/Ogba  to Ekehuan road and many more of such important roads leading to some new densely populated communities in Benin.

Most  importantly for me is the decision to aggregate the agenda of all political parties into his development plan. This is novel. It also means carrying everybody along  for the overall development of the state.

It is important to state that while constructive criticism is welcome in the new government, there is the quick need to  emphasise that destructive criticisms, blind criticisms, unbridled sycophancy, are not welcome at all. I make this pont because for several years, the  Peoples Democratic  Party,PDP, in Edo State  launched a campaign of calumny against the person of the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole while he held sway as chief executive of the state. The PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih and his clique appear not to have any other business than insult, and deride the Comrade Governor daily before cameras. They do it in such a way that if a cockroach runs across their legs, they blame it on the Comrade Governor. When a wall gecko  trespasses their matrimonial beds, it is the Comrade Governor they blame it on. When they wake up from a terrible nightmare, It is the Comrade Governor. They shout hoax at everything Edo State Government  does and attempts in vain to castigate all achievements  of Oshiomhole’s administration. His name just remains in their lips for evil words, yet Comrade Oshiomhole worked untiringly to develop the state and refused to be distracted.

There are lessons there for Godwin Obaseki as well. He must remain focused, committed to his goal and, like his predecessor, refuse to be distracted. It is their stock in trade and the live on such uncontrolled and blind criticisms.

The Obaseki regime should hit the ground running. It should set out immediately to  implement the people-centred policies and programmes. The government should be people friendly and it should build on making more friends than enemies. It should be firm and it does not really mattered if it has to step on toes. The government should not hesitate to step on “leprous toes” or chop them off in the words of Adams Oshiomhole.

It is on record that previous administrations, both military and civilian took Edo people so much for a ride. The military and PDP administrations in Edo folded their hands and  watched the state’s major  infrastructures:  roads, electricity, water supply   and social services go down to sorry levels.

Edo people have no doubts about the capability of the Godwin Obaseki administration to transform the state  given his pedigree. Good enough  Mr. Obaseki was born in Benin City to the famous and illustrious Obaseki family and attended St. Matthews Anglican Primary School Benin City from where he proceeded to Eghosa Anglican Grammer School, Benin City for his secondary school education.  So he cut his teeth in Benin and understands the needs and problems of Edo people more than anyone else. As he settles down to work, it is only important that Edo people give him all the prayers and support that he needs to govern the state. This is not the time sycophants should crowd him and ask for all kinds of favours. He should be allowed time and space to operate to the benefit of all Edo people. It is important to stress that even though he was elected by the people, it is the celestial design of God that he becomes the leader of Edo people because God himself anoints  a leader.

Mr. Dan Owegie, a chieftain of the APC, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.