Obaseki Speaks 30-year Development Plan For Edo State

Mr Godwin Obaseki who took the oath of office to be Governor of Edo state for the next four years on Thursday, says he has put in place a 30-year development plan in the overall interest of the state.

In his inaugural address after he,was sworn into office, he said, modalities for the Edo state of 2050 has already been designed with all the objectives it will achieve included.

He said, “With a target of ensuring a defined template for development and growth in our state up till 2050, we have set the modalities for a 30-year development plan to provide government with necessary tools, guidelines and milestones for development planning”.

The governor added that in the short term his government will not only develop but grow its own digital economy so that government can render better services.

According to the governor, ” Before 2025, Edo State will develop and grow its digital economy and operate a digital government”.

He said, “The digital government we are building will plug into the new digital age and would ensure we deliver better and efficient services to all our citizens”.

Meanwhile on the Covid-19 he said despite the challenge it poses globally, governments and citizens must learn to adapt for the sake of a healthy society.

“We are battling a rampaging pandemic, COVID-19, which has claimed more than 1 million lives globally. It has shut down the economies of world super powers, overwhelmed some of the best healthcare systems and has redefined the way we work, live and relate as human beings”, said Mr Obaseki.

What we need he said is to, “Continue to observe all the basic COVID-19 protocols and precautions, including social distancing, avoiding crowed places especially indoors, using facemasks, frequent hand-washing and seeking medical care when we feel unwell”.

While admitting that,” We do not claim to have the solutions to all our problems”, he said, “On the other hand, democracy and participatory government, is facing a crisis of confidence locally and globally”.

He said, “We are compelled, now and again, to reassess our choices in the light of the unfolding intrigues, paradoxes and conflicts that have come to characterize our political reality as people in the free world.

“And this brings me to the point of the need to deal with the false dichotomy between what belongs to the people and what belongs to government. We must realize that what belongs to government, belongs to the people and vice versa. It is the bridging of this dichotomy that would help us to deal with the realities and challenges that we face in our society today”.

Governor Obaseki said the citizens must see government as their creation and endeavour to support it by paying taxes as and when due.

“This gulf also manifests in the apathy towards taxation, which is the core duty of citizenship. Why should we have problems getting our people to pay taxes to a government who they voted for? Government does not have money of its own.

” The money government utilizes to provide service for its people is actually the peoples’ money. What we guarantee you, my dear people of Edo people, is that we will provide value for your money (tax revenues) by utilizing it judiciously, transparently and with accountability”, the governor concluded.