Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has given reasons why his administration did not build any industry in the state. Adams Oshiomhole said he never promised to build Industries during his campaign, That his campaign promise was to create the enabling environment for investments to thrive in the state.
It is a fact that no single industry was built in Edo State throughout the Seven years the Governor has been in office. He also accused his predecessors of building Industries to siphon money.
He named four industries; Fertilizer plant, Auchi; Cassavita Industry, Uromi; Chemical Plant; Ikpeshi; and Fruit Juice Factory, Ehor built by the previous administration, that all was built with second hand equipment and at inflated prices.
“The only value of these industries are the land spaces they occupy,” “Our responsibility is to get the private sector build industries by creating the enabling environment and not to build any.” said Oshiomhole.
He asked if anyone has ever drunk or bought any of these products, adding that his administration tried selling them (industries) but no buyer was willing to purchase because of their depreciating value.
He noted that the same previous government in their usual characteristic sold Okpella Cement with the intention to use it as a base for re-bagging of cement until he waded in, disclosing that very soon, Okpella Cement Industry would come back on stream through a private initiative.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, however promised to leave for his successor, a robust revenue,he further said that in the past seven years of his administration, a lot of private initiatives have been built, giving the establishment of furniture company using bamboo at Anegbete as example because government was able to build roads in that area which in turn attracted that private company to the area.
Governor Oshiomhole further disclosed on Bendel Brewery, that the court case between Churchgate, who are the core investors and the company contributed to the stalling of progress and non-rehabilitation of the company. He however promised that with his negotiation with AMCON, assuredly that very soon, Bendel Brewery would back.
While speaking on the state of roads in the state especially Benin City,the governor promised mass rehabilitation of roads and the continuation of existing ones, saying that the reason for this was as a result of rains for seven years, which according to him was not conducive for road construction and rehabilitation.
“Now that the rains appear to have subsided and the dry season fast approaching, we have spoken with all the contractors working on our roads and they have been mobilized and would soon go back to site. This is in addition to the rapid response agency to patch up and resurface bad spots with the metropolis”.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole however promised that in the next 12 months, all projects initiated by his administration would be completed, leaving none behind.
Omolara Adegoke – Edo State
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