...Says, "We can No Longer Be Silent"The Akoko- Edo Forum has once again called on government to establish a tertiary educational institution in the local government.
The demand was restated by the President of the Forum, Dr. Charles Jagun, in a welcome address at the reception it organised in conjunction with other stakeholders for the newly inagurated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Marvelous Omobayo who hails from Lampese, a town within the local government.
It will be recalled that the former Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shuaibu was impeached following a long drawn disagreement with his principal, Governor Obaseki with MarvelousOmobayo appointed to replace him.
The Forum used the opportunity to congratulate the new Deputy Governor while thanking the Governor for the choice, noting that this is the first time anyone from the local government area was being appointed to that office.
“I am delighted to welcome you all to this great occasion to celebrate a unique event in the annals of the history of Akoko-Edo local government. I am particularly honoured to specially welcome our dear son, in whom we are well pleased, his Excellency The Deputy Governor of Edo State High Chief, Engr Marvelous Omobayo, to this August occasion on behalf of our joyous Akoko-Edo people.
“This event I must put on record demonstrates our utmost joy and appreciation on your inauguration as the number 2 citizen of this great state and the first to hold such a position from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
“Today is all about our illustrious son, whom we are proud of and showcasing the importance of unity in Akoko-Edo to bring about the much-desired change to our abysmal neglect and underdevelopment narrative. Nevertheless, it will be a disservice if I fail to highlight the role of partnership among AEF and the Akoko-Edo Traditional Council in making this outing successful.
This strategic partnership brings us a giant step further in our mission to make Akoko-Edo a united constituency and an easy to pull from years of neglect, systemic underdevelopment and engaging to ensure Akoko-Edo receives her fair share of what is due to the area.
“We are providing our people a platform to voice their concerns, speak up for every community, advise and collaborate with other critical stakeholders to ensure the past years of denials of Akoko-Edo its fair share of development, infrastructure, positions, and others become a thing of the past.
“We can no longer be silent when other parts of the state are enjoying while we wallow in pain and neglect. Hence, this unexpected gesture by His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki is a welcome development, and we are highly thankful for it.
While noting the short period available for Omobayo to serve as Deputy Governor, Jagun highlighted the efforts of AEF, stressing that it “has been at the forefront of presenting our pains to the world and will continue to do so. To this end, we have visited, written, and made several contacts with the federal, state and local government both privately and publicly on reversing the neglect of the area and with the coming on board of His Excellency Marvellous Omobayo things can only get better.
“As I round up, may I state that we at AEF, as a nonpartisan group, is here to promote real strategic development and positive change with lasting impact on our people. One of such is our call for the immediate establishment of a tertiary institution in the LGA to pull people into the LGA with the cascading developmental benefits such a project will bring in employment, economic activities, infrastructural development, branding, etc.
“We are equally in the process of submitting a memorandum to the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee for the creation of an additional 2 LGAs from Akoko-Edo, and this will also be forwarded to the State Government and State Assembly for the creation of LCDA as obtained in many states.
“Finally, we congratulate our son, we thank Mr. Governor for recognizing our pain as enunciated in his speech at the inauguration of the Deputy Governor and also offer our readiness to collaborate with the state in any form to change the minds of Akoko-Edo people regarding the topic of neglect.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to thank all AEF members, our royal fathers, the local government, and our respective communities for their generous financial contributions to putting this event together. The short notice and the generosity of minds you have demonstrated show what we can accomplish as a people if we all pull together. Akoko-Edo people are the best.