Infrastructural Decay In Edo Worrisome, Says Okoukoni
By Simeon OSAJIE
For Edo State to fit into the name it is christened as “The Heartbeat of the Nation”, it must not be by mere word alone, rather it has to be by action.
This is the opinion of a frontline Edo 2024 Governorship Aspirant under the platform of Labour Party (LP) and also the founder of Okoukoni Care Foundation, Mr. Martins Azekhumhen Okoukoni.
Okoukoni expressed regret and described as worrisome, the spate of dilapidation and infrastructural decay that has pervaded all sectors of the state economy.
Recall, during the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion as governor of Edo State, a Cassavita industry was put in place at Uromi, Esan North-East local government area in Edo Central Senatorial District, Fruit Juice processing factory at Ehor, Uhunmwonde Local government area in Edo South Senatorial District and Fertiliser blending plant at Ikpeshi, Akoko-Edo local government area in Edo North Senatorial District. Irrespective of the opinion anybody may hold, regarding the industrialisation drive of Lucky Igbinedion-led administration, the motive was for the development of our state. Okoukoni wondered while the projects were abandoned by successive governments.
According to him, “Government is a continuum. When one government comes in place at the expiration of her tenure, another comes on board. The original idea is for governance continuity, so that old projects are not abandoned. It is nauseating that successive governments has been bedeviled with the spirits of self, hence they don’t always continue where others stopped.”
Okoukoni solicited for the cooperation of all and sundry in Edo State to support his ambition, irrespective of party affiliation. When victorious by God’s grace come 2024 governorship election, the challenge of infrastructural neglect in the state would become a thing of the past.
Every sector, according to him shall not be left out. The schools which has for years become a subject of mockery owing to the infrastructural neglect would be given attention. Same way teachers which are lacking would be recruited, so that our pupils and students can enjoy benefits of a working government. In the road sector, there shall be drastic improvement. This shall also apply to health sector which has become mere consulting clinics.
