Oshiomhole: He made a choice for the people

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

IN a remarkable session with journalists just before his inauguration for a second term as governor of Edo State in 2012, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole gave an unusual philosophical perspective to his political odyssey.

Governor Oshiomhole

“I have not built any road in what is generally called the GRA where the big people reside and that is a conscious decision. I have chosen to put public resources in those depressed neighbourhoods where the forgotten majority reside,” Oshiomhole had said.

Hinting at his own inclination to self denial, Oshiomhole added: “I had the choice to build an ultra modern government house, “befitting” for the first family but I would rather prefer to build an ultra modern hospital which is currently under construction where majority of the people can have access to, rather than a government house where they will be locked out. Again, it is the cost of choice.”

While his assertion may well be challenged by his political critics, the comrade governor’s mission to direct the resources of the state towards the benefit of the greater majority may well have won him a place of significance in the hearts of the majority of the people.

Not surprisingly, some, especially the bourgeoisies see him as a disruptive leader determined to impede their claim to the commonwealth. It is a cross Oshiomhole, however, bears with great aplomb.

Oshiomhole’s path to folk hero, however, was not surprising for two major reasons. First, as the immediate past president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, just before he contested the 2007 governorship election, he had won fame for his pro-masses chants and claims. Second, the yawning crave for good governance in the first eight years after the return of democratic rule had reached a peak by the time Oshiomhole contested the governorship election in 2007.

Indeed, given the situation he met on ground at the time he belatedly got his mandate in November 2008, it was generally assumed that he could not have gone below the benchmark he inherited from the substantive PDP administration that preceded him.

The rebuilding programmes commenced by the short-lived Oserheimen Osunbor administration took on a life of its own a year or so after his inauguration in 2008 with a frenzy that literally transformed the state, especially in the area of road infrastructure.

Perhaps the most conspicuous testimonial of Oshiomhole’s stewardship in the area of road infrastructure is 5 Junction, an intersection where five roads meet in the heart of Benin-City, the state capital.

Confusion in 5 Junction

5 Junction had over time won the sobriquet “5 Confusion”, on account of the horrendous time faced by motorists whenever it rained, no matter how briefly. While city dwellers could avoid it by bypassing the junction, out of state travellers with limited knowledge of the city were often trapped at the junction for hours.

However, two years after Oshiomhole came in, the confusion in 5 Junction began to clear as it was integrated into the massive N30 billion Benin storm water Master Plan, a scheme conceived to eliminate the flooding that tended to paralyse motor traffic in the ancient town.

Besides Five Junction, the streets in the adjoining neighbourhood where Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia lives were almost wholly transformed with street lights.

Oshiomhole: He made a choice for the people