Author: Eubaldus Enahoro

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called for increased partnership between the local, state and federal governments, noting that the bottom-up approach to development will ensure sustainable growth and development of the country.

The governor, who was part of five-man panel at an event in Ekiti State to commemorate Governor Kayode Fayemi’s third year anniversary in office, said to fast-track development in the country, the planning of the federal government must align with developmental priorities articulated by sub nationals.

Other panelists include Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai.

According to Obaseki, the era where the federal government plans the development of the country in isolation and without input of the state and local governments must be brought to an end, ensuring that the sub nationals participate in development meant for them.

The governor noted: “There’s a popular saying that when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Nigeria seems to be failing because we have failed to plan.

“I recall speaking with Gen. Yakubu Gowon several years ago and I asked him what happened to Nigeria and he said we stopped planning; hence, we began to see plans as mere documents where somebody at the federal level will design and then pass down. So, we had a National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and Sustainable Education and Enterprise Development (SEED) programme that never made any significant difference.”

He continued: “But with oil revenues beginning to dwindle, the need for planning from the local government level, through the state to the national level has become more imperative. This means that at the local government level, the state must know what is going on, and at the national level, the states must know what the federal government is thinking.

“With this, there will be a coherence and linkage between what the state is doing and what the federal government is thinking for the country, and our national plan has to be an aggregate of our state plans; this state plan has to be indigenous and built from within.

“For instance, I know what my priorities are in Edo; so, if it is education, I must understand how I link my own plan for the children in Edo with what the federal government has for me so that we don’t have the sort of situation we have had in the past.”

“So, it’s that linking the thinking at the sub national level with what’s going on at the national level that will make the difference,” the governor added.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; former Governor, Lucky Igbinedion; Edo State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Joe Acha, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha were among dignitaries at the tribute/service of songs held in honour of late music icon, Prof. Sir Victor Uwaifo.

Governor Obaseki described Uwaifo as a legend who carved a niche for himself and portrayed Edo State positively to the global community.

He noted that Uwaifo was dexterous, applying himself to verse as he did to visual arts, building an illustrious and impressive oeuvre of creative output in his wake. He celebrated his ingenuity and contribution to the creative industry in Nigeria.

On his part, Lucky Igbinedion described late Uwaifo as a cultural ambassador and a great musical icon that brought glory to Edo, Nigeria and Africa.

“As Commissioner for Arts and Culture during my administration, he served the state well, performed well and brought a lot of credit to my administration. I thank the Uwaifo family for allowing him to serve the state. For the children, I urge you to be strong and keep his legacy on, as he has not died but transited to a better place,” he added.

The daughter of the late musical icon, Deaconess Mrs. Oghomwen Uwaifo described her father as an inspiration to the children, adding that he had a unique ability and was very hard-working, promising that the children will do all they can to keep his legacy alive.

An appeal has been made to the Edo State Governor, Mr.  Godwin Obaseki, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II and the Security agencies to prevail on the Edigin of Useh to resolve the land dispute that was created by him by selling  land to multiple buyers  in Egor local government area of Edo State.

This appeal was made by Mr. Monday Oghenekevwe who has become a victim of the Edigin of Useh in an interview with newsmen in Benin City at the weekend

According to him, he bought a piece of land from Edigin of Useh for N 700, 000 which has become a subject of police case because other people have come to claim ownership of the same land.”

He said while  he was working on  the land which he bought early this year,  the first person came to say that the land belonged to his mother  and after negotiation he  gave out  N100,000  to avoid trouble and he was given  a  document for 32 by 100.

In his words, “When the building was completed another person came again saying the land belonged to his mother when I had already parked into the house.

“I asked him where was  he all this while when I was building and he summoned me to the elders and I was told that this is the real owner of the land and that Edigin of Useh stole the land and sold it to me.

“I told him to follow me to Edigin’s place but he declined and instead he brought policemen from Zone five to arrest me.

He disclosed further  that when he submitted the papers used to buy the land to the police, they arrested the Edigin of Useh who denied selling the land to me but that it was his brother  who sold it to me

“ I told him he cannot deny because the transaction was done in his parlor and he was the one who told me that the land was going for N 900,000 but because of the pastor who took me to him he was going to sell for 700.000  and why is he denying now when it has involved the police

“The Edigin of Useh said he was going to resolve the issue since February 4^th to October this year  nothing was done and I took the police to arrest him because many witnesses, landlord and people in the area  have said he is not the owner of the land.

“ The brother  earlier promised that they will find the money for me but  later on he said they do not have money to give to me and I  took the police to arrest them again. The matter is still with the Police now” he added

Mr. Oghenekevwe  who disclosed that the man who claims the land belong to the mother is also dragging him that he needs the land or  he should pay  N 3milllion appealed  for  intervention  to settle this land dispute.

When contacted, , Chief Emovon Ogbemudia JP,  the Aramioba of Benin condemned the act of selling land to more than one person and warned those selling land under power line to desist from it.