The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has warned political detractors not to mistake his calm disposition for weakness.
Obaseki stated this when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) National Butchers Union, Market Women, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) youths and students, held a protest march to endorse him for second term.
He also made it clear that he would respond to opponents of his second term bid with positive works, adding that ‘Never again will the food of the children be given to the dogs’.
The Governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Barrister Paul Ohonbamu, said the social contract he entered with the people in 2016 was being fulfilled across the state.
According to him: “Obaseki is a development warrior. He wants to create an alternate society where honour will be given to men and women who deserve it and not those who bought them.
“That is the society he wants to create where there will not be primitive accumulation. Where there will not be wastage.
“Obaseki believes the wealth of a state is not measured by the opulent of rulers of that state but the productivity of the people of the state. People are not comfortable with the process he is adopting.
“The process of changing the fortunes of Edo people is being opposed. It is a system that can create winners and losers in the political arena and economy market place.
“They are not comfortable because the type of politics Obaseki is playing is too sophisticated for them.
“Obaseki has said he will continue to be an agent of the people. You must see the government as your agent to do that which you desire in line with legitimate expectation.
“Those who threatened that they will let hell loose, I want to tell them that no Governor is a weakling.
“Every Governor can sting, every Governor can strike. We are fortunate to have a governor who is an unwilling serpent.
“This fight is not Obaseki’s fight. The people put him there. He has the legitimate votes from of the people and he cannot betray the trust. The goodwill cannot be squandered.”
