Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said that it was important for former leaders to understand, that state fund is meant to develop the citizens, and not to be shared to individuals.
The governor, who had on several occasions insisted that Edo State funds are meant to develop the state and not to be shared to former governors or individuals, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja.
He spoke to newsmen after he visited the home of a former military governor of defunct Bendel State, Vice Admiral Husaini Abdullahi (retd), to condole with the family members, over his death.
He said, “This visit is a solemn event. We came here to pay homage to a great Nigerian statesman. These are people who served this country who meant well for this country. They had all the opportunities to make all the money. When they served it was not the spirit to acquire for themselves otherwise he would have bought the whole streets of the state.
“But these were people who understood what public service meant, people who sacrificed for this country. People who had access to state treasury but they had a discipline that money for the state was meant to develop the people and not individuals.
“He should be emulated and that’s why I had taken time out to come and pay homage to him and commiserate with the family and to say that we are proud of their father and the work he did and to advise and encourage them to sustain his legacies.
“He was governor during the turbulent times in Nigeria. Even though he was a military governor, he was able to win the heart and soul of Bendelites at that time. He sustained some of the policies he met on ground. If you come to Edo today, there are so many buildings and infrastructure he commissioned while he was governor. In terms of physical environment and governance, he contributed immensely to the development of the old Bendel State.
“Definitely, we are going to name a monument after him. I’m already consulting with my colleague in Delta and when we make the decision, we will let you know.”
There is currently a worrying rift between Obaseki and All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman and former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who supposedly handpicked the current governor to be his successor.
There are speculations that the rift is not unconnected to the incumbent governor’s refusal to allow his predecessor influence the running of Edo State, including the disbursement of its funds.
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