On Tuesday, former governors and deputy governors of Edo State gathered for the launch of the 30-Year Benin City and Edo Regional Development Plan, spearheaded by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The plan, which aims to set the course for a revitalized Edo Nation, is presented as non-partisan, contrary to some claims circulating in certain circles.
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Attending the event were former governors Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, along with former deputy governors Rev. Peter Obadan and Chief Mike Ogiadomhe.
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Governor Obaseki expressed his gratitude to the former officials, highlighting that the development plan is a dynamic document designed to foster a renewed culture of strategic planning.
Obaseki said “These plans have been carefully put together and we have consulted widely across the State to ensure participation of our citizens. Our people have been involved in this process and will continue to be involved because it’s a living document not static.
“They are subject to review every five years and there will be six reviews at the life span of these documents. Today, we are glad that we have been able to make a significant departure from what we met.
“We did our first fly over the State in 2017 and it became clear to us that beyond issuing titled documents we needed to plan for the State following what we saw. We saw a disordered mode of development particularly Benin City.
“Also concerned about the growing trend where almost 50 per cent of the population were migrating to Benin City and the lopsided development needs to be addressed and dealt with”.
The governor stated that the current crises in the State and the nation stem from a failure to anticipate the future and plan accordingly.
He emphasized that, as Edo people, we have a history of proactively planning and taking charge of our future and destiny.
“We would not be different today as we would continue to plan for our future. Thank all those that have worked over the last two years putting the plan together and today we are launching it. I believe we are set for the future and set to restoring the new Edo Nation.
“By the grace of God when we leave office on November 12th, the administration that will take over from us would have inherited what we never had the privilege to inherit, a master plan that will guide them into the future”.
In her welcome address, Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban, and Regional Development Isoken Omo revealed that 700,000 homes were surveyed and 27 different groups were consulted to gather their input before finalizing the document.
She said “The Portuguese said Benin City was more beautiful than Lisbon in the 15th Century, we want Benin City to be back to that era.”
