As the good people of Edo State gradually gravitate towards the governorship election of next year, many political observers- especially those inclined towards or have access to the media have taken it upon themselves to become umpires on the onerous task of making a choice for our dear state.
It is more painful to see persons who are not abreast with the political developments of the state since its creation , even since the beginning of the present democratic dispensation in 1998 to just share any view on this burning matter because they want to be heard and attempt, albeit very unsuccessfully to dictate to the voting public the electoral value or not of governorship aspirants.
The question that readily comes to mind is, what do these people want to achieve, especially now that Edo State is in dire need of total over haul and repositioning to guarantee effective, functional and speedy dispensation of the dividends of democracy to the people through both human and infrastructural development?
And while political observers continue to name and project those likely to become governor in 2024, it is very important to recognise and appreciate the sterling qualities of a former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bright Omokhodion, who aptly fits into the kind of person the state urgently needs in 2024.
As a seasoned banker, Finance Commissioner of the state, Director of the state Liaison office, state legislator, House of Assembly Speaker, Executive Director and Vice Chairman of the state Economic and Strategy team and a team player, Omokhodion is prepared to use the best hands to move the state forward.
If you carefully scrutinise his traits, you will notice that, although he hails from Edo Central, having grown up in Edo South Senatorial District and over the years established a fraternal, positive friendship with Edo North, makes him equipped to be able to adequately transcend all imaginary boundaries of partisanship and leverage on the ethno-cultural values of the heterogenous and homogeneous people of the state.
One can recall that as the state Commissioner for Finance and Budget under the Chief Lucky Igbinedion administration, Omokhodion ensured a robust management of the state’s resources to the extent that no single industrial dispute was registered. Salaries, pensions, gratuities as well as other statutory financial commitments of the state government, including bursaries, Small and Medium Scale Business Development grants were disbursed to Edo people without impediments.
Infact, it is still an undisputable record today that his tenure had the last unhindered payments of gratuities to retirees of the state civil and public service. employments into the state’s civil and public service had the best attention under his period as Commissioner for Finance and Budget.
Many aged workers were ready to quit the service because they were sure of immediate remuneration or payments of their disengagement benefits immediately after end of their patriotic duties to their motherlands. The state government never forced people to retire over undue extension of service duration. Employment of workers into the critical sectors such as health, especially doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, radiologist and other health care providers, judiciary, education and agriculture were taken for granted.
One cannot recall at any time the other arms of government cried fowl over any undue withholding of its financial benefits or running costs because the man, Omokhodion, who managed the state’s resources, was on top of job.
Having successfully ended his tenure as a financial tzar in 2007, his people in Esan West constituency thought it wise to elect him as their representative at the hallowed chambers of the state House of Assembly.
At the House of Assembly, Omokhodion did not become a bench warmer as he soon exhibited uncommon leadership qualities amongst the honourable members who soon saw the huge benefits of letting a round peg in a round hole lead them as he was made the Speaker after the exit of late Barrister Zakawanu Garuba.
Omokhodion’s emergence as Speaker gave a sudden structural and constructional foundational leap to the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomole to move the state up from where former governor Igbinedion stopped.
Suddenly, the Bills for road infrastructure, Red Roof Revolution in the education sector and renovation of health centres across the state and many others, begging for urgent attention were speedily passed for the Executive arm to hit the ground running. This happened after almost two years of stagnation under his predecessor.
Although Omokhodion was to pay an unfortunate price for the bold, patriotic steps he took as Speaker as acrimonious opposition in his constituents misinterpreted his actions and mobilised against his re-election, progressives across the state and Nigeria, who had researched into the resounding success of the Oshiomole administration are quick to discover that, but for Omokhodion’s enthronement by his colleagues as Speaker, the ex- governor might have continued to fight and ward off stiff opposition throughout his tenure, especially during the first tenure when some acclaimed godfathers held sway.
Even as Speaker, Omokhodion remained a reference point in leadership as he did not witness any unwarranted impeachment or any such attempts at his desk. That could only be made possible through an unbridled team spirit birthed by selfless and productive leadership. Suffice it to say that budgetary sessions at the assembly were not only met to x-ray and filter the Executive’s abilities to maintain a high level of fiscal discipline but patriotic level of financial creativity while regular rendering of account of stewardship was compulsory tasks for all ministerial heads, government agencies and parastatals.
Under Omokhodion, the House of Assembly was not only known for effective oversight functions but for its quickness to expose any undeclared deliverables on project execution where the Commissioners or Head of the government agencies in charge would promptly face the sharp tongue of the “Comrade Governor” who would have gone to the project site himself.
The hallmark of these giving details to state functions instead of laying back to enjoy the spoils of office are today what one is projecting in Omokhodion to appeal to the members of the All Progressive Congress to give the mandate of the party to this patriotic Edo son as candidate for the 2024 governorship election.
A look at his projection to move Edo State forward would reveal a carefully designed and neatly packaged objective which he has tagged “SMILES”.
S…Socio-economic development. Schools upgrading, health care for the young and aged, care homes, revamping of agro allied industries.
M…Manpower and skills development, civil service reforms.
I….. Infrastructure rejuvenation, bridges, flyovers and roads, urban upgrades, Public Private Partnership,
L …Living wages, and improved living standards, leakage controls and leadership by objective.
E.. Egalitarianism, Equity, Equality and Employment generation.
S… Security and safety, law and order, foreign direct investment.
“SMILES” has also been domesticated into housing and living where he says a subset of infrastructural provisions cannot be over-emphasised.
As we await the revelation of the “SMILES VISION” 2024 in other sectors of the lives of Edo people, the future of Edo is in the hands of all Edo people.
Please let’s welcome Rt Hon Bright Omokhodion to the saddle of leadership in 2024
Barrister Patrick Biose wrote in this piece from 4, Ezomo Street, Benin-City, Edo-state
