TODAY marks another major era in the life of Edo State as the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN-led administration clocks three years with remarkable achievements to show for the mandate given by the electorate to a party that has the common good of all at heart.

It is cheering to note that in spite of all odds, and acts of sabotage and blind criticisms from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, we have continued to tread the path of unequalled service laced with massive developments across the land in keeping with our electoral promises. For a number of reasons the people of the state are united in retaining the ACN in power for at least 50 years as the PDP has nothing to offer the people.

Coming on board, the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole embarked on urban renewal policy which focuses on massive road construction in three major urban centres of Benin, Uromi and Auchi as well as erosion control and beautification projects have delectably transformed most urban centres in the state. In the area of roads, the Oshiomhole administration embarked on massive roads construction across the three senatorial districts of the state. The roads, some of which are still under construction have some unique features as for the first time in the history of the state, the roads are being constructed with covered side drains, parking lots, pedestrian walk ways, street lights and aesthetically adorned with beautiful flowers.

The reconstruction and resurfacing of the Airport Road, Akpakpava, Siluko, Sakponba, former Isinoro (now Gani Fawehinmi Layout), Auchi-Fugar, Apana-Ayogwiri, among several other roads are commendable efforts at addressing the multi-faceted and intrinsically complex road problems inherited by Oshiomhole’s government from previous administrations.

The multi-million Benin Flood control project is another bold step of the ACN administration to bring a more permanent solution to the menace of erosion and perennial flooding of the State capital. Similar projects are equally on-going in erosion devastated parts of the state. Of particular note is the case of the popular Five Junction and New Lagos Road and artery road projects which complement the Benin flood control project.

It is on record that the present administration in Edo has secured a place in the hearts of all Edo people in the area of education. There is general reconstruction, renovation and rebuilding of public primary and secondary schools across the state. Even the State owned Ambrose Alli University; Colleges of Education, Ekiadolor, Abudu and Igueben as well as the Institute of Management and Technology, Usen and College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi have all received the Midas touch of the Comrade Governor. His efforts remains unequalled in the 20-year history of Edo State.

In the health sector, major work is currently on-going at the Central Hospital in Benin City which when completed will have facilities and equipment as well as services comparable to any modern hospital in the world. Several other hospitals are currently receiving the touch of government to lift both primary and secondary health care in the state.

The perennial water problems in Edo Central and North is being aggressively addressed. Communities and villages that hitherto hadn’t access to potable water are now being served by the state government, having acquired modern water bore hole drilling machines bursting very high depths to strike water for our people.

On the labour front, Comrade Oshiomhole undisputedly remains the first governor to implement the National Minimum Wage of N18,000 to workers in the country and Edo State Government workers were the first to enjoy the new minimum wage in the country.

Besides, the Oshiomhole administration is the first to implement the New Medical Workers Salary and the first to implement the Teachers Salary Structure, TSS. All these lay bare the innate commitment of the Comrade Governor to social welfarism for the state workers.

In the area of sports, the state has bounced back to its former glory as it were in the years of yore in Mid-West and later Bendel State. The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium has been reconstructed with new turf compared to any major one in the world. This feat has led to the playing of International Football matches and other major sporting activities in the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. As an indicator of progress, the high profile match between Steven Keshi-led Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Botswana national team was played at the stadium.

One is not unmindful of the characteristics of opposition elements in the state given the peculiarities of jeun-jeun politicians in Nigeria. There is no gainsaying the fact that a new government may abandon most of these projects as they may want to carve a new identity for themselves which might depart from the lofty ideals of the current leadership.

But as we mark our third year on the saddle, we see a brighter future for Edo people under the ACN-led government. It is important that citizens of the state continue to support us and identify with our policies and programmes and make them successful.

As we approach another year of election, it is equally important that Edo people remember where they were drenched by the PDP rain owing to its corruption-induced tattered umbrella. Edo people must continue to resist the antics of the PDP in their desperation for power. We must not forget in a hurry the mess the PDP plunged the state into while in power. The sweet nothings, bags of rice, army retirement funds, and all such elements angling for power must be reminded of the locust days of the PDP in Edo land and we must never return to such dark era.

Mr. DAN OWEGIE is Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Edo State.