As the nation gears up for activities in the new year, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and the Chairman of the state Economic Team, Godwin Obaseki, at the weekend said 2016 would be tough for Nigeria financially, hoping however that states like Edo and others that have been able to develop prudent financial administration would be able to stand the test and eventually progress.
Obaseki stated this at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) when he hosted journalists in the state to an end of year party.
According to him, “I am coming here to felicitate with the fourth estate of the realm. It is quite easy for us to forget in a hurry where we are coming from. Today is December 31, 2015 and we all are seated in a country call Nigeria. We have almost forgotten that they almost plunged this country into chaos and we have almost forgotten what God has done for us as a country and as a people by still keeping us as one in spite of what we went through.
“We have so much to be grateful to God for. Look at the criticism you were subjected to both from the opposition and the then ruling party but you survived so there is much for us to celebrate.”
He therefore called for hope ahead of the challenges in the new year, saying “As we look forward towards 2016 and even though 2016 does not portend the kind of crisis we anticipated in 2015, 2016 itself also has its own challenges. There is no gainsaying that we are in a recession and recession is going to bite harder in 2016. Things will be difficult for us as individuals, family, community even as a state and also as a country.
“While we pray for the energy and strength to go through the year, we are also are optimistic that from the hardship of this recession, a state like Edo State will rise to be one of the foremost states in Nigeria.”
Obaseki tasked journalists to remain positive in their thinking, adding that their role would go a long way in also imprinting optimism in the psyche of Nigerians.
“You journalists have a lot of work. Journalists should keep up a positive spirit and optimistic view of life and we know we will be able to overcome the challenges ahead of us next year. I want to thank you for what you people have been doing for us the people of Edo State and all the citizens of Nigeria. I urge you not to rest on your oars. The future will be full of challenges but let us be optimistic,” he stated.
On the fears that he might mortgage the future of Edo State to capitalists who would be more interested in what they would get from the state than what they will give, Obaseki said: “My own influence in life is how to get capital and use the capital to develop the economy because without capital you cannot set up factories, industries or employ people. There is nothing wrong with capitalism. What is wrong, whether it is capitalism or socialism, whatever ideology we want to pursue we should pursue it with all honesty.”
Earlier in his speech, chairman of the occasion who is the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon, said Governor Adams Oshiomhole should be supported as he has moved the state to enviable heights.
Edo State of 2015, he pointed out, is unarguably a better state than Edo State of 2008 or 1999, because the state has a new hospital that can be compared to a five star hotel and by the time it is complete, there will be no reason why any Edo person will go outside the state for medical attention.
In his welcome address, the state Chairman of NUJ, Roland Osakue, commended Obaseki for hosting journalists in their secretariat even has he urged journalists in the state to continue to live up to their constitutional calling as the fourth estate of the realm.
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