The "STINGY" Edo State Governor By Genevieve Magazine Publisher, Betty Irabor.

Betty Irabor & Godwin Obaseki.

Well, a lot of our governors are known with huge recklessness, throwing state government resources to the dogs, spending on frivolities as if tomorrow won’t come, with examples such as former Akwa-Ibom State, Godwill Akpabio, that of Imo, Rochas Okorocha and a few other others, but there is one, or two, known for their very diligent management of funds and do not take for granted, the fact that the money they have do not belong to them, but the citizens of the states they govern.

One of those is Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, one of those who have recently been surrounded in fights with those who claim to have made him governor and has come out to say that the reason why he is being fought is mainly because he has not put state resources on the table for them to share.

Now, in a twist, one of the very respected and quintessential media practitioners and Publisher of Genevieve Magazine, Mrs. Betty Irabor has told of her experience with the governor, her previous impression of him and how she sees him now, with a note she titled, “The STINGY Edo Governor”, posted on her facebook this morning.

HERE IS WHAT SHE WROTE UNEDITED.

When I was about to launch my book last year, I emailed Governor Obaseki asking for Financial support. I was sure he would support me. We all go a long way. Who Sai? He wrote back apologising that Edo State had no funds. I negotiated all the way down to N500k from my initial request hoping he would support me in any way but he maintained his stance; "Edo State has no funds!" I was so disappointed. He didn't even part with ordinary 50k!

"Chai, this guy is stingy o" I thought. When I heard other people's accounts about his stinginess, I felt justified writing him off as a tight fisted governor. 

Then one day, my in-laws visited from Benin and regaled us with stories of how the Governor was a "governor-na-do" They spoke of how he was transforming Edo State slowly but steadily. At that stage, I began to try to see things from the Governor's perspective... He had to stay focused. No distractions. 

Truth is, if we are going to change Edo State and any other state and Nigeria as a whole we need visionary leaders with a sense of purpose. We need leaders driven by a genuine desire for CHANGE. People don't accept change so readily especially when it's not working in their personal favour. 

So, after my initial fury and sense of entitlement had settled, I began to admire Obaseki for being principled...

Running a state is complex; you're damned if you do and damned if you don't...

From the way I see it, we are going to have to get used to having this stingy governor for a while and the sooner we get used to it, the better....