IGARRA, Nigeria — Governor Godwin Obaseki has made a public plea for the Federal Government to permit his administration to undertake necessary repairs on federal roads in Edo State.
The appeal came during his visit to Igarra, the Akoko Edo Local Government Area (LGA) headquarters, for a thanksgiving service at St. James Cathedral, Ugbogbo.
Governor Obaseki conveyed his concern over the state of the roads, particularly the inability to attend the Abba Festival due to bad road conditions.
“I was actually on my way to the festival but had to turn back and return to Benin because the roads are impassable,” he lamented on Monday, August 28, 2023.
He added, “I want to repair and fix your road, but you have to help me appeal to the authorities in Abuja because they say it’s their road and will not allow a state to work on it.”
The Governor has frequently expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s deteriorating condition of federal roads, especially the Benin-Auchi, Benin-Sapele, and Benin-Ifon roads.
He cited numerous unsuccessful attempts to initiate palliative measures, often met with resistance from federal contractors assigned to those road projects.
This situation has resulted in a mounting infrastructure deficit that affects the daily lives of Edo residents, hampers economic activities, and compromises safety.
In response to the situation, civil society organizations and local community leaders are joining the governor’s call, pressuring the federal government for a more flexible approach allowing state governments to intervene in fixing national roads.
The issue also raises broader questions about the federal-state relationships in Nigeria, especially regarding infrastructure development and maintenance.
Shift in Power Dynamics: Edo’s Governor Obaseki Overlooks Deputy Shaibu in Succession Plans
According to sources close to the administration, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has reportedly dismissed the idea of endorsing his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, as his preferred successor.
The reason, insiders say, is rooted in a regional balance of power.
Governor Obaseki appears reluctant to have his successor hail from Edo North senatorial district, the same district as his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister-designate, Abubakar Momoh.
Shaibu also hails from this district, specifically the Estako area.
Sources say Obaseki aims to redistribute the power in Edo State by ensuring his successor comes from either Edo Central or another part of the Edo North senatorial district.
The name of Asue Ighodalo has been put forward as a likely successor that the Governor would endorse.
But there are other factors at play besides the power balancing.
On Friday, August 4, 2023, the source claims that Governor Obaseki has reservations about Shaibu’s alignment with his 30-year development plans and visions.
An act that sparked this suspicion was Shaibu’s attendance at the inauguration party of Oshiomhole in Abuja, a move Shaibu made without Obaseki’s clearance.
One source revealed that Shaibu was recently prevented from entering the Governor’s office without prior notice.
This protocol, among others, has been put in place by Obaseki to establish certain boundaries.
Moreover, Shaibu’s role in revenue generation was recently stripped from his office, a move some interpret as a sign of Obaseki’s lack of faith in Shaibu’s leadership capabilities.
“Shaibu wants to force the Governor to support him at all costs,” the source stated, discussing a lawsuit filed by Shaibu seeking court protection over an alleged impeachment plot.
According to the source, this is a tactic aimed at drawing the Governor into an open confrontation and enabling Shaibu to remain in office, even after a potential defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Despite the tension, Shaibu has yet to formally declare his intention to run in the 2024 gubernatorial race.
Insiders suggest his failure to gain his boss’s endorsement has stalled his announcement.
When reached for comment, Shaibu’s aides declined to speak on the matter, with one simply stating, “Oga is going ahead to contest for the governorship.”
