Leave politics for politicians — Obaseki charges new Perm. Secs
By Isaac Olamikan
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, swore in nine new Permanent Secretaries with a charge to act responsibly in the discharge of their duties.
Obaseki, during the swearing-in at the Government House, Benin City, called for unity and better collaboration between the citizens and government to ensure the realisation of the administration’s Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda, aimed at achieving a progressive and prosperous state.
The newly sworn in Permanent Secretaries include: Iryn Omorogiuwa, Efosa Aisien, Nyamali Erumuse, Igbinomwanhia Abieyuwa, Imoihosen Oziegbe, Peter Osagie, Sabina Chikere, Osawemwenze Kayode-Iyasere and Bernard Aigbe.
The Governor noted, “I want to urge all of you to be dedicated in the discharge of your duties. I want you to work together as a team. We will not accept you playing politics. You are not the political heads of these agencies and ministries; leave politics for politicians and do your jobs as professionals.
“Note that a lot of work has been done. We expect you to key into our Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda and adjust whatever we have done that you think is not adequate. You are not coming to reinvent the will and start the process; no you are not. There is a MEGA Agenda and we all have to key into that agenda so that we can reach our destination much quicker than we have planned.
“These appointments are not made on the basis of political affiliation; they were made principally on track records,” he added.
The Governor, who warned detractors to desist from propagating disunity and disharmony among the people, said his administration will no longer tolerate the antics of political detractors who benefit from stirring controversies and divisions where none exist.
According to him, “We will not allow ourselves to be divided again. Edo is one; whether you are Edo South, Edo Central or Edo North, Edo is one. So, when people begin to manipulate and try to create divisions where they don’t exist, we must ignore them.
“They tell lies; they go ahead to manufacture information and figures where they don’t exist just because they want to continue to divide us and manipulate us. They have now met a government that has refused to be divided.
“Many of us share lineage across the state. So, where is this issue of dividing us coming from? Some people thrive when we are divided; we do not want Edo divided anymore as Edo is one.
“I want to tell these people who benefit from our division that they should look for another business because we will not be divided. We must now look for ways to organise ourselves properly and rely on ourselves internally,” the Governor charged.
Responding on behalf of the newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries, Mr. Bernard Aigbe, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy for the appointment, pledging not to fail in their duties.
Aigbe further hailed the Governor for providing 24-hour electricity for all government offices in the state through the Ossiomo Power, noting that their appointment was a call to further contribute their quota to the development of the state.
