Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has said the state’s Regional Development and Benin City Master Plans would serve as a roadmap for the progress and sustainable development of the State within the next 30 years.
Obaseki spoke during a stakeholders’ engagement on the state’s 30-year development masterplan at Okaijesan Town Hall in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
The engagement session had in attendance stakeholders from Esan West, Esan South-East, Esan Central, Esan North -East and Igueben LGAs.
The governor said: “Planning must start from our communities and all of us must collaborate to ensure that the plan works as one person can’t solve the problem.
“The masterplan is a document that lays the roadmap for development which will last for 30 years.
“That is an entire generation and we will continue to check the plan every five years to measure the progress we have recorded.
“The plan will keep other leaders in check as the people will be able to ask our leaders questions on why they have not done this or that, according to the plan. We want to assure the people that this plan will certainly lead us to development.
“We are on this engagement drive to enable Esan people to contribute to the masterplan. This plan, when implemented, will also develop the grassroots.
“The masterplan is for all of us, not for one person. The promises of politicians are not master plans.
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“Most politicians like to deceive the people but this can’t work anymore. The master plan will guide and expose politicians and leaders that come to office to deceive the people.”
Restating his commitment to ensuring a prosperous and progressive Edo where all citizens were empowered to realise their full potential, Obaseki said: “I didn’t meet any plan on ground but will leave a plan before leaving office.”
A Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics at the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, Engr. John Obanor, said: “Our focus is to collaborate to make Edo State one of the states with the best city linkages in Africa.
“The Obaseki-led administration has completed 56 roads in Esan land and about nine roads are still under construction, with about 17 other road projects already designed.”
The Onogie of Igueben HRH Ehizogie Eluojieror thanked the governor for his developmental strides in Esanland, commending him for making the College of Education in Igueben the headquarters and fixing the Ugiogba Road.
He explained that as against the rumour making the rounds that the school has been closed, the school is very functional.
Also, the Onogie of Ewu Kingdom, Alhaji Abdulrazak Ojiefoh lll thanked the governor for helping his people solve the gully erosion problem facing Ewu kingdom.
He added, “We want to equally thank you for reviving the Bendel Fill and Flour Mill which is now operational.”
