Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State is
leaving office today, Saturday November
12, 2016, but his legacies will remain for
many years to come. Upon arriving the
state as governor in 2007, the former
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC), embarked on massive developmental
projects across the state. There is no doubt
that the former labour leader is quite
satisfied with his achievements but the
spirit of his late wife, Clara and that of his
Principal Private Secretary, Olaitan
Oyerinde resurrected last Wednesday
during his valedictory Exco meeting.
Governor Elect Godwin Obaseki and
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, during the
official handing over to Obaseki Friday
night at Government House.
Governor Elect Godwin Obaseki and
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, during the
official handing over to Obaseki Friday
night at Government House.
The meeting was highly emotional. At a time
during the meeting he battled tears and so
were his commissioners. Oshiomhole
recalled how he lost his beloved wife, Clara,
who was right by his side when he took the
oath of office as governor of Edo State in
2007. He couldn’t help his emotions when he
recalled that “my late wife wore khakhi
with me, standing right beside me when I
took the oath of office.
Her death was very devastating to me
because we were in the struggle together
before I became governor and I felt now
that God made me governor, she was going
to enjoy the fruit of her labour. So, it was
shocking for me to lose her at that stage. I
started with her and it would have have
been wonderful to finish with her. Another
shocker I got in my life was when I lost
Olaitan who was a son to me.
“Olaitan was killed by some useless and
wicked gun men. For weeks it was like a
dream to me because none of us expected it
and that is why sometimes when I look at
all these, its difficult to really say whether
life is fair to us or not. But as a strong
believer in God, who gives and who takes
anytime He wants, we cannot question His
decision. So I tried to comfort myself. It
was not really easy but God in his infinite
mercy gave me the strength and the
courage to survive the painful exit of both
my wife and Olaitan”.
Oshiomhole could not, at this time, stop
tears as he addressed members of the state
Executive Council. Most of the Commissioners
equally betrayed their emotions. However,
Oshiomhole went on to commend members of
his team for their effort towards the
success of his administration. He described
his Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie
as his son, saying “he has always been there
for me.
And sometimes even when I shouted at him
he kept his cool and his loyalty has been
unshaken”. Expressing gratitude to the
entire team, he said “Let me thank each
and every one of you for what God has
used you to do for our people, for our
great state.
Let me say publicly that I do believe the
evidence is there, that members of this
state executive council are the least paid
but worked the hardest compared to any
other state that I know of. I also know that
we have had to work long hours.
“I recall a meeting we had, starting at 9.00
am, no adjournment and staying all the
way to 7.00 am the following day. No break,
no adjournment.
We all agreed that we would do that and we
would not adjourn until we had addressed
the issue of the viability of this state so
that we can deliver on our promises. “I
want to thank all of you. May God bless
you; may God reward you. And we must
have a sense of collective ownership of
everything that happened while we were
here.
I want to apologise to those I harassed,
and there is hardly anyone I didn’t
harass, but it can be both ways. I wanted
everything to be perfect. The harder I
strove towards perfection, the more I
realised that it couldn’t be, and I am still
striving. I was always afraid to fail; it has
never been my nature to fail. I didn’t
design it. Thank you for tolerating a lot of
that and for appreciating that nothing was
personal. I am proud of each and every one
of you, and as Odubu said, let’s see
ourselves as members of a particular class,
like you have members of an alumni
association, you have a particular class.
May God preserve this class, and may the
membership of this class continue to
advance. With Godwin (Obaseki) I think one
of us is taking over. We have a sense that
the man who chaired our economic team
with whom we had debates is going to
continue. My prayer is that he will avoid our
own mistakes and build on our strength and
that the economic environment will be
sufficiently enabling to enable him to do all
of the good things I know he has in his
heart, because what brought us together was
the Edo project.
I know he has passion; he has a
commitment; he has the energy and he has
the honesty of purpose, and above all, he
has the competence. What he will need from
us is the prayer for God to enable him to
do so well that this club of which he was a
member, he will be an example of how
members of this club are performing and
growing from strength to strength. Thank
you very much.” It was very emotional.
Speaking also, Ogie pointed out that he has
learnt a lot in the last eight years working
with Oshiomhole. “In fact it is like another
school for me and I will say I learnt
humility, and you taught us that everything
is possible, your doggedness, your sense of
humour, your intelligence are all we learnt”.
On his part, Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius
Odubu said, “I recall with nostalgia the
very early days of our relationship.
The very first time we met with regard to
this project was in Abuja, and it was as if
we had known each other for donkey years.
We bonded as brothers. I recall again the
trying moment, the trying period when our
mandate was stolen. You provided
exemplary leadership. Mr. Governor, sir, to
say that you have performed beyond
previously established boundaries will be to
state the obvious. To also say that you began
well and ended well will also be to state the
obvious. Mr. Governor, sir, you have
changed the Edo narrative.
The Secretary to the Edo state government,
Prof. Julius Ihonvbere described Oshiomhole
as a man “you can only understand if you
are patient. But he is a good man and very
very understanding and Edo people will
surely miss him”. Chief of Staff to the
governor Patrick Obahiagbon (Igodomigodo)
lightened up the hall with his usual
grammar when he described Oshiomhole as a
“political bulldozer who has catapulted the
politics of Edo state to the next level”.
The state Commissioner for Information
and Orientation, Kaseem Afegbua thanked
the governor for the opportunity given to
him to serve but however admonished him to
work on his temper because Nigerians are
looking up to him as a future President of
this nation. “ I admire your brilliance,
power of oratory and courage and most of
us are indeed very happy to work with you”.
Oshiomhole’s legacies:
Defeated Edo Political god fathers Ended
the yearly flooding in Benin City through
the N30billion Benin Water Storm Project
Revolutionized Edo schools through the red
roof revolution (All the government schools
now equipped with modern teaching
facilities and qualified teachers).
Massive construction of roads in the 18
LGAs equipped with walk ways and side
drains Beautification projects Benin City,
Auchi and Ekpoma
Solving age long erosion problem at Queen
Ede in Benin City and Auchi Youth
empowerment Championed of one man one
vote Provision of water across the three
senatorial districts (No water in Edo Central
senatorial district until Oshiomhole came
with his Dando machines) Prompt payment
of workers salaries Increased Edo IGR
from N350million to N1.2billion Built a 5-
star Benin Central Hosital Benin City.
Remarkable events to remember
Mourned his late wife for five years
Married a beautiful lady, lara from Cape
Verde First indigenous governor of Edo
state to hand over staff of office to the
Oba of Benin Produced a successor from his
party APC in the person of Godwin Obaseki.
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