…Insists naira devaluation policy driving more Nigerians into poverty
By Esho Ayemoba in Benin
The Edo State Edo Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said Federal Government lacks the capacity to effectively manage itself and cannot be trusted to fix federal roads in the State.
The Governor in a statement made available to newsmen and signed by Mr. Crusoe Osagie, a senior government official, reiterated the State Government’s determination to work with the newly inaugurated Local Council Chairmen to build alternative roads.
The roads, Obaseki stressed will end the suffering of residents and other users of the federal roads in the State.
Obaseki, while addressing journalists in Benin City, said his government remains committed to advancing development in all communities and improving the livelihoods and welfare of the people of the State.
The governor said, “The Federal Government as you know today lacks the capacity to manage itself not to talk of building these roads. It will take a while for them to be able to build and fix those roads. Fortunately, we have had other connections, so our priority is to design and work with the State and local governments to build alternative State roads. Infrastructure is important and we should be able to move our people, their goods and services across the State to bring development.
“Today, we are in a crisis in our Country. What is hurting Edo is the advantage we have in terms of our location of being at the core of the Country and therefore being connected with roads owned by the Federal Government. When we build those roads, they will be barricaded and restricted for use.”
Decrying the current economic realities in the Country which has continued to impoverish more citizens, Obaseki noted, “As you know today, we are facing very harsh economic times and it’s tough. Every day, the naira gets devalued and more people go into poverty as they can’t feed themselves. As a people and a society, we can’t turn our eyes and abandon our people. We must look for a way to strengthen them and ensure that our citizens don’t go to bed hungry.
“The poorest of the poor and the weakest in the society must not go to bed hungry and must be taken care of as it’s our responsibility as a government. We can’t wait for palliatives but rather create our own palliatives for Edo people; that surely, we will do for them.”
Ayemoba, investigative journalist/ South-south editor of the paper can be reached on: 08161649000.