Edo Politics 2016: Lack of Novel Initiatives Retard Development- Governorship Aspirant.

Arc Emuan

By Steve Ofeimu and Jalo Osai.

BENIN CITY-In the buildup to the Edo state governorship election this year, the All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Arc. Ilenre Austin Emuan spoke to our correspondents at the weekend in Benin City on areas of agriculture and other issues against the positive development in the state. According to him why he wants to be governor of Edo state? He said that it is obvious that the challenges of governance have become too cumbersome for the current leadership to bear and hand over to a non developmental expert. Edo State is yet to take full advantage of its internal potentials because of poor planning characterized by short sightedness of past political leadership and bureaucracy.

“…At the moment, the only segment that pays a token is the poorest of the poor who sell in the local markets and stalls, as well as some very poor artisans, no industries or factories. No state mechanized farms.  It is such a sad commentary that most of these monies from these local markets and stalls are not remitted to the coffers of the state accurately”, he said

It is not news to an average Nigerian on the street that there is high level of corruption in nearly all the establishments and the salt on these injuries is the huge and seeming irremediable indebtedness of some states to banks and financial institutions. It has becomes clear that the strategies and approaches by these old politicians to the management of people and resources have become obsolete and inapplicable to contemporary demands.  Arc Emuan stands to know the quickest exit from this mess as he expressed shock that some states instead to plan for self-bailout policy went ahead for Federal bailout plans which are temporal.

“… So many states in Nigeria have resorted to begging the Federal Government to bail them out with funds to discharge such a basic responsibility as paying salaries owed to their civil servants.  Rather than disgracefully beg for a "Federal Bailout" which offers temporary relief, they supposed plan for “self-bail out" scheme that would give them more enduring reliefs and afford them more balanced and holistic platform for sustainable growth and development in their states. The reason for lack of foresight like this is not far-fetched; their pervasive conservatism and lack of novel initiatives income generation for the state.” He revealed.

 In Nigeria today, it has been a culture in many states of sitting back and expecting monthly allocations that accrue from the federation account, except in few states that are astute enough to generate revenue significantly from internal sources in order to complement their monthly statutory allocations.

Arc Emuan revealed that he is a graduate and masters degree holder in architecture. He hopes to bring his experience to bear on the teething problems bedeviling Edo state and also tackles poverty. Among the said strategies was on agriculture. “My state supposed to be the bedrock of agriculture and food security in Nigeria because we are blessed with abundant arable land for both mechanized and subsistence farming. But today we have a different story so I plan to overhaul agriculture in the state”.

During the drawing and planning of his developmental blueprint, the team experts considered the first factor of agriculture which is land. As governor, he said that he will acquires enormous farm lands on leasehold across the state and designates them as Strategic Agricultural and Food Security Fields to be used as counterpart contribution to an economic growth partnership with a consortium of technical and financial partners from developed nations. These partners will import capital and improved techniques and seedlings for utmost yield of these fields.

“Our farmers which will include able young men and women will receive accelerated course through the composition of Edo Agriculture Development Programme (EADP) on the new highly developed farming techniques, machinery, inputs and seedlings” he said.

Furthermore, his approach to youth and women development will be different from what is presently obtainable. He has drawn up a plan to invest massively in technology for skill acquisition in schools in order to boost small scale industrial development as well as improve the private finances of the state.

According to him, he had extensive discussions with foreign investors already who have given him enough tentative nods; to be confirmed when by the grace of God he is elected as Governor of Edo State.