A TALE OF TWO THIEVES!!!

This story is an attempt to draw comparison and highlights between certain entities. For as much as we can remember and will remember the variable known as truth, has not been told of them. Hence, my story which started 16years ago...

(1999-2007)
The first thief came into power with a realistic plan and motive. He loved the people, saw the needs of the people and then he got to work. First, he recognized the need for a buoyant economy (no wonder his major campaign strength bordered on industrialization of the state), so he marshaled employment by making sure that  government parastatals were up and running and also are remitting to the state's purse. Also he gave free rein to private owned ones, attracted foreign investors, who in turn took working hands out of the streets for a meaningful life. He built industries all over the state, fulfilling his campaign promises. Industries like Cassavita Factory, Uromi; Fruit Juice Factory, Ehor; Chemical and Fertilizer Plant, Auchi; Solid Minerals Processing factory, Ikpeshi; were all built. Hence, our economy was vibrant and active, lucre exchanged hands in rapid succession and we hardly recognized poverty and hardship. Thus brought the slogan: "You chop, I chop"!!!

Again, he, to a very reasonable level fortified our system and process of education from primary to tertiary levels. He reopened College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi; revamped the dead Institute of Continuous Education(I.C.E), renovated Edo College; set up College of Education, Igueben;  College of Education, Afuze, College of Education, Abudu; Edo State Institute of Technology & Management, Usen. He renamed Edo State university to Ambrose Alli University after a former governor Prof. Ambrose Alli, with buildings constructed including twin hostels for male and female. State and national competitions were rampant, willing teachers and very active students and pupils were all over the place. In housing, he established Iyekogba housing estate; Iguosa housing estate, Iguosa; Post service estate, Eyaen. and many more!!

Sports which is now a thing of the past, served as a major preoccupation for youths. In 2002, Edo State hosted and won the National Sport Festival, it was beehive of sporting activities, Ogbe Stadium was renovated and renamed "Sam Ogbemudia" stadium in honour of a former Bendel State governor. I remember the glory days of Bendel Insurance, Ethiope publishing, Bendel Brewery(makers of crystal beer and malt), Edo Line, Edo Courier, Okhoro Dam, Water Board and so much more!

His fault and flaws were, he didn't tarred roads and also did not renovate more secondary and primary schools. God-fatherism was the song of the day, which many people didn't want to hear and voted against. Otherwise, he didn't owe workers, he generated revenue for the state without heavy or over taxing and he did not owe a dime! Instead, he left 4Billion Naira in the state's treasury for his successor. 8years ended, he left office. A total of 196 Billion Naira was gotten as revenue and federal allocation during these 8 years period. A higher caucus branded him a thief, he was tried and crucified and we applauded... Amid all of these achievements!!!

(2008-2015/2016)
Barely two years later, the second thief came into power. Energized with the prosecution of the first thief, he gave the people high hope and promises. Some of which he readily broke even before he got into office. Others he cannot or may not even remember if we were to ask him now. He came into power with a mastered, doctored and a well calculated plan. He did quite well as regards Ring road in the heart of Benin city, in-cooperated with water fountain, but he ventured into projects that were federal government responsibility which he was later paid for. He made us believe that he did them (with the state's funds).

One hundred and thirty(130) Billion Naira was remitted to Edo state in December 2014, by the federal government for projects that the state did on its behalf. The projects were Airport road, Double lane road through Oluku, Ugbowo, Uselu, to Dawson, Sapele road, Akpakpava road, and New Benin road. Employment is barely felt and hardly noticed, foreign investors left, some private and almost all government parastatals shut down. As a result, our economy crumbled, and as we speak, almost dead, the only Parastatal functioning with full capacity is the Board of Internal Revenue, a tool he uses for milking the masses.

He did well to renovate schools at some levels but he also made us believe that these were state projects, whereas, the funds of the project was 65% federal, 20% state and 15% local government. Which means, he claimed the federal government's glory. Then, he started antagonizing teachers without listening to their challenges, and trying to sort them out. Private schools became foes to him, a war was staged between them. Renovated classrooms lacked desks and chairs and even teachers and we can hardly talk of free education. The heavy hammer of tax landed on us, excessively high and unregulated tax, of which we see nothing. Nothing is done with tax payers money, absolutely nothing.   

Youth development is long forgotten, sports died a natural death. Casual wokers became a norm, an act which he advocated against when he was the national labour leader. Pensioners are been owned pension and gratuity. Touts or "Agberos" became the voice of the government. Ironically, 15,000 casual workers were sent home without feelings or remorse because it was planned all along. The state is presently at a standstill with a high debt profile and very little to show for it. This is the seventh year of the eight years promise of paradise. He came in 2008 after accusing the former party of god-fatherism and the need to put a stop to it. Little did we know, the political virus took another dimension, he became the God-father, imposing less worthy candidates on the people which marred the local government and state house of assembly election. A democratic dispensation became an autocratic one, it was a daylight deceit and abuse of office.

Two buildings of 3-storey in Central Hospital complex is taking 7 years without completion, when it took the first thief less than 1 year to build Stella Obasanjo(S.O.) medical facility. Some of the medical equipments bought for the S.O. medical facility by the first thief lie fallow, and uninstalled by this present administration while central hospital remains a mirage with low-staff! I applaud his giant strides here; however, if the Gully erosion control is not state sponsored,  the water storm project is borrowed funds, the red-roof school rehabilitation are also 65% federal government counterpart funds, what exactly can we say Edo State Government(EDSG) has done with over 2.5 Billion Naira, monthly IGR, initial 14.7 Billion Naira World Bank loan, & monthly allocation since 2008 beyond some road renovations & construction sir? The total revenue received by this present government including IGR, Loans and federal allocation stand at Seven Hundred and twelve (712) Billion Naira.
Come 2016, he will leave, with the dead cliche; let the good work continue. Its time we start seeing Chief Lucky Igbinedion as a true son of the Edo Nation, and A HERO!

By: Bakore John; Marvis, Uyi and Wilson.