•I have brought good investors, gov replies Ize-Iyamu
Chairman of Edo State Economic Team, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said Governor Adams Oshiomhole will finish his tenure on a strong footing and that the report card of all the structures being put in place is available for all to see.
Obsaki said the governor is working like a man seeking a re-election. The spoke against the backdrop of the commissioning of Dangote’s multibillion naira cement factory in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government area of the state.
In a statement by his media aide, he said: “This is the first time Edo State is having a workaholic personality as a governor,” and promised to continue from wherever Oshiomhole will stop as a governor with the same zest and determination in achieving results. He harped on creating an industrial-friendly environment that will attract the establishment of bigger industries and company that will silent unemployment in Edo State.
Obaseki also urged Edo citizen and residents of the state to join the train for good governance stressing that as a people, we should remain resilient and steadfast in supporting what is good. “As a citizen we have an obligation not to compromise good standard. We are all aware of the antecedent of PDP government in Edo State. Edo was a poor, backward and under-developed state without a future and direction. Infrastructural neglect, bogus and ambiguous budgets, education, health services and industrialization was at their lowest ebb until Oshiomhole took over the leadership of the state. As a government, APC has kept their promises to Edo State and for us to develop other sectors that need government attention, APC have to remain in the state. The party is open to receive as many who are willing to come and join hands in moving the state to the height that the founders of the state had in mind…”he said.
Meanwhile, Oshiomhole has replied a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that he is proud to call Alhaji Aliko Dangote his friend.
Ize-Iyamu, who was secretary to the state government during the administration of Mr. Lucky Igbinedion as Edo governor said in a press statement published in some newspapers that, “with the touted relationship with Dangote, it is just a few months to the end of his tenure that he could attract him to lay foundation stone for cement factory in Edo State.”
In his response, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the governor said “I’m proud to associate myself with Dangote, and I’m proud to say my friendship with Dangote has yielded a $1 billion investment in the state in the form of a brand new Okpella Cement factory which will offer close to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs to people of the state.
“My friendship with Dr. David Ladipo yielded another $1 billion Azura Power Plant. My friendship with Captain Hosa Okunbo has yielded a $750 million Wells and Carlos Farms which is set to employ over 85,000 people.
“I’m proud to say that under my stewardship as governor, investors now find Edo State very attractive and they are coming down here in droves. Already a Chinese Steel Company, Yongxing, is in full production and is already seeking ways to expand its operations.
Also, more Chinese companies are planning to set up their factories in different parts of the state, these are my friends, those are my records which I am proud of.
Now, there is a popular saying “show me your friend and I will tell you whom you are”. Who are Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s friends? It is on record that some of his best friends have been convicted of looting the state’s treasury…”